This  book  is  DI^  below 


UNIVERSITY  of  CALIFQRNl/i 

AT 

LOS  ANGELES 

LIBRARY 


THE  MINIMUM  COST  OF  LIVING 


THE  MACMILLAN  COMPANY 

NEW  YORK  •  BOSTON  •  CHICAGO  ■  DALLAS 
ATLANTA  ■  SAN  FRANCISCO 

MACMILLAN  &  CO.,  Limited 

LONDON    •   BOMBAY    ■  CALCUTTA 
MELBOURNE 

THE  MACMILLAN  CO.  OF  CANADA,  Ltd. 

TORONTO 


;^' 


6 

THE  MINIMUM  COST  OF  LIVING 


A  STUDY  OF  FAMILIES   OF  LIMITED 
INCOME  IN  NEW  YORK  CITY 


BY 
WINIFRED  STUART  GIBBS 

SUPERVISOE  HOME  ECONOMICS,  NEW  YORK  ASSOCIATION  FOR 
IMPROVING  THE  CONDITION  OF  THE  POOR,  LECTURER  IN 
HOUSEHOLD   ARTS,   TEACHERS   COLI-EGE,   COLUMBIA 
UNIVERSITY,  AUTHOR  OF  "  ECONOMICAL  COOK- 
ING,"   "food    for    the    INVALID    AND 
CONVALESCENT," — ETC.,  ETC. 


^m  fnrk 

THE  MACMILLAN  COMPANY 

1917 

All  rights  reserted 

.    39343 


MAX  1 8 


COPTBIOHT,  1917 

By  the  MACMILLAN  COMPANY 
Set  up  and  electrotyped.     Published  March,  1917. 


INTRODUCTION 

One  of  the  chief  aims  of  an  organization  like  the 
Association  for  Improving  the  Condition  of  the 
Poor  is  to  help  others  to  help  themselves.  It  is 
frequently  more  helpful  to  teach  a  given  family- 
how  its  income  can  be  made  to  more  nearly  meet 
its  needs  than  to  supplement  their  income  with 
relief.  This  is  always  the  case  if  their  income  is 
sufficient  when  wisely  used  to  meet  their  actual 
necessities  although  it  may  not  be  sufficient  even 
for  them  unless  used  wisely  with  much  planning. 
Perhaps  one  of  the  most  essential  factors  in  thrift 
in  family  expenditures  is  careful  planning.  Care- 
ful planning  inevitably  means  a  systematic  record 
of  expenditures.  Making  this  record  in  itself  is  of 
the  greatest  use  in  developing  thrift  and  lays  a  firm 
foundation  for  profiting  from  errors  in  thrift — 
from  hasty  poor  judgments  in  expenditures.  No 
corrective  is  more  effective  than  a  record  of  an 
unwise  expenditure. 

It  was  with  these  thoughts  in  mind  that  the 


vi  Introduction 

Association  for  Improving  the  Condition  of  the 
Poor  developed  some  two  years  ago  a  simple  but 
practical  family  budget  book  for  the  use  of  families 
known  to  the  Association  over  continuous  periods 
of  time,  that  is,  families  in  which  the  dependency 
either  because  of  widowhood  or  of  chronic  sickness 
was  relatively  long  continued,  usually  ending  only 
with  the  coming  to  working  age  of  children  in  these 
families.  The  use  of  this  systematic  method  of 
recording  family  expenditures  has  been  most 
beneficial.  An  interesting  thing  about  it  is  the 
interest  which  these  families  themselves  take, 
somewhat  contrary  to  expectation,  in  keeping  the 
record.  Incidentally,  much  useful  information  has 
been  collected  as  to  the  food  habits  of  families 
of  moderate  incomes  in  New  York  City.  It  has 
seemed  worth  while  to  present  in  some  detail  the 
results  of  this  systematic  record  of  family  expen- 
ditures in  a  typical  group  of  families  and  to  inter- 
pret these  in  the  light  of  what  it  is  reasonable  to 
hope  can  still  be  accomplished  in  the  direction  of 
education  of  such  families  to  further  increase  the 
usefulness  of  their  income  in  terms  of  better  food, 
better  clothing  and  better  housing.  The  assem- 
bling of  this  information  has  been  made  by  Miss 


Introduction  vii 

Winifred  S.  Gibbs  who  has  for  the  past  ten  years 
been  in  charge  of  the  Division  of  Home  Eco- 
nomics. 

(Signed)  Bailey  B.  Burritt, 
General  Director,  New  York 
Association  for  Improving 
the  Condition  of  the  Poor. 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS 

PAGE 

Foreword xiii 


PART  I 

THE  STUDY  AS  A  WHOLE 

Chapter  I 

Object  of  the  Study 3 

Description  of  the  Families 4 

Method  Employed  in  Making  the  Study 5 

Data  on  Which  the  Study  was  Based 10 

Kind  of  Records  Kept  by  Teachers 11 

Chapter  II 

Discussion  of  the  Estimate  of  Minimum  Require- 
ment for  Rent,  Food,  Fuel  and  Light,  Clothing, 
Insurance,  Sundries 13 


Table  of  Contents 


PART  II 

EXPENSE  ACCOUNTS  OF  THE  SEVENTY-FIVE 
FAMILIES 

PAGE 

Estimate  of  Needs  One  Month  and  Twelve  Months 

for  Each  Family 31 

Actual  Expenses  Twelve  Months 31 

Actual  Income  Twelve  Months 31 

Summary 31 


PART  III 
WHAT  THE  STUDY  REVEALED 

Chapter  I 

Living  Conditions  Before  and  After  the  Study 49 

Comparison    of    Living    Conditions    and    of 

Health  Conditions 49 

Classification  of  Families  According  to  Income.  50 

Famihes  Showing  Surplus  and  Deficit 51 


Table  of  Contents  xi 

Chapter  II  page 

Housing  Conditions 56 

Percentage  of  Income  Spent  for  Rent 56 

Number  of  Rooms  per  Family,  Private  Toilet, 

etc 57 

Classification  of  Rent  According  to  Number  of 
Rooms 58 

Chapter  III 

The  Seventy-Five  Dietaries  in  Detail 60 

Classification  of  Food  According  to  Size  and 

Composition  of  Families 74 

Percentage  Spent  for  Food 74 

Conmients,  Comparisons,  Conclusions 75 

Chapter  IV 

The  Clothing  Budget 78 

The  Study  of  the  Clothing  Budget 79 

Comments,  Difficulties  of  Standardization,  etc. .  81 

Chapter  V 
Fuel  and  Light 86 


xii  Table  of  Contents 

Chapter  VI  page 

Incidentals 89 

Discussion  of  Results  of  Insufficient  Provision 

for  the  Item 90 

Carfares,  Insurance 90 


FOREWORD 

In  1906,  the  Dean  of  a  technical  college  said  to 
the  writer,  *'I  can  find  plenty  of  girls  who  realize 
the  value  of  Household  Art  courses  in  school,  and 
plenty  who  teach  these  courses  well.  What  I 
want  now  is  someone  on  the  firing  line  who  will 
show  my  students  how  to  connect  their  classroom 
work  with  the  real  questions  of  the  day." 

The  women  who  did  the  work  on  which  the 
present  study  is  based  are  all  on  the  ''firing  line." 
The  work  was  begun  ten  years  ago  by  the  New 
York  Association  for  Improving  the  Condition  of 
the  Poor.  The  first  purpose  was  to  give  simple 
lessons  in  diet  and  cooking  to  the  mothers  of 
underfed  children.  These  families  were  all  under 
the  care  of  the  Association.  It  was  soon  found, 
however,  that  in  order  to  do  any  constructive  work 
and  really  help  the  families,  the  food  problem 
could  not  be  considered  independently.  As  the 
work  developed  the  family  budget  as  a  whole 
came  to  be  the  foundation  for  all  instruction.  The 
dietitian  based  her  diet  and  cooking  lessons  on  the 


xiv  Foreword 

food  budget;  the  sewing  teacher  based  hers  on  the 
clothing  item.  The  family  budgets  dealt  with  in 
the  following  pages  were,  of  necessity,  on  a  min- 
imum basis.  The  word  minimum  is  used  to  denote 
certain  results  of  work  done.  This  work  included 
observation  of  results  for  the  purpose  of  determin- 
ing the  lowest  sum  on  which  the  families  could 
maintain  health  and  working  power.  This  was  for 
the  purpose  of  making  best  use  of  the  money  in 
hand,  and  never  for  the  purpose  of  keeping  the 
families  on  a  low  standard.  The  families  were 
those  of  widows,  who,  by  reason  of  the  death  of 
the  wage  earner,  had  been  granted  a  definite 
monthly  cash  allowance.  This  allowance  was 
based  on  a  carefully  planned  estimate  of  needs. 
Furthermore,  the  Association  hoped  by  the  fixing 
of  such  an  estimate,  and  by  a  record  of  its  working 
out  to  be  of  direct  service  to  other  families  whose 
incomes  were  practically  the  same  as  that  allowed 
these  famiUes.  The  results  of  this  experiment  are 
set  forth  in  the  following  pages.  Because  of  the 
lack  of  margin  it  was  necessary  to  give  careful 
attention  to  each  item  so  that  no  one  should  rob 
the  other. 

The  workers  have  endeavored  to  present  a  piece 


Foreword  xv 

of  work  in  which  the  human  element  should  be 
brought  out,  but  one  in  which  this  element  should 
be  related  definitely  to  a  sound  scientific  back- 
ground. Direct  good  to  the  families  has  been  the 
chief  aim.  It  is  hoped,  however,  that  the  results  of 
this  instruction  can  be  so  formulated  as  to  be  of 
service  to  all  who  are  concerned  in  our  present  day 
industrial  and  social  problem. 

The  following  field  workers  have  made  this 
study  possible: — Mrs.  Emma  Carter  Schultz, 
Miss  Marion  Mudge,  Miss  J.  B.  F.  Parramore,  Dr. 
Bertha  F.  Johnson,  Miss  Elisabeth  Banks,  Miss 
Margaret  Schmidt,  Miss  Elizabeth  Guilford,  and 
Miss  Bessie  G.  Chamberlayne.  They  have  con- 
tributed unstinted  personal  service  with  the 
families  and  enthusiastic  professional  cooperation 
in  the  division. 

The  writer  extends  grateful  acknowledgments 
to  Professor  Henry  C.  Sherman  and  Professor 
Robert  E.  Chaddock  of  Columbia  University  and 
to  Dr.  C.  F.  Langworthy,  Department  of  Agricul- 
ture, Washington,  D.  C,  for  helpful  criticisms  and 
suggestions. 

W.  S.  G. 


PART  I 
THE  STUDY  AS  A  WHOLE 


THE  MINIMUM  COST  OF  LIVING 

A  STUDY  OF  FAMILIES  OF  LIMITED  INCOME 
IN  NEW  YORK  CITY 

CHAPTER  I 

Object  of  the  Study 

From  Sir  William  Petty  in  1672  to  Dr.  Robert 
Coit  Chap  in  in  1906,  each  study  of  the  family 
budget  has  made  its  own  contribution  to  the  sum 
of  human  well-being.  The  earlier  workers  under- 
took these  studies  primarily  that  the  resulting  data 
might  be  used  to  improve  social  conditions.  Their 
viewpoint  was  the  broadly  social,  and  contact  with 
individual  families  ceased  when  the  families  had 
contributed  the  necessary  information.  Further- 
more, much  of  the  field  work  was  done  by  those 
whose  interest  ended  when  the  actual  gathering  of 
data  was  completed. 

The  present  study  was  also  begun  in  the  hope 
of  making  a  contribution  that  might  help  to  im- 
prove social  conditions.  The  immediate  plan,  how- 
ever, was  to  so  far  improve  family  groups  that  they 
might  become  stronger  units  in  the  future.    Those 


4  The  Minimum  Cost  of  Living 

in  charge  of  the  work  had  a  decided  advantage 
over  their  predecessors  in  that  their  field  workers 
were  women  specially  fitted  by  training  and  inter- 
ests for  the  doing  of  such  work. 

Expense  accounts  were  collected  from  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  families,  but  in  order  to  make  the 
study  concise  seventy-five  were  chosen  for  pres- 
entation. These  seventy-five  families  are  typical 
of  the  income  groups  represented  in  this  study. 

Briefly,  the  families  reported  upon  fall  into  the 
following  groups  according  to  size : 


3  families — widow  and  two  children 


26 

"   tliree 

19 

"   four 

15 

"   five 

5 

"   six 

6 

"   seven 

1  family 

"  eight 

According  to  nationality  they  form  the  following 
groups: 


American 19 

English 1 

German 17 

Italian 5 


Irish 28 

Scandinavian 2 

Austrian 1 

Bohemian 2 


The  function  of  the  Home  Economics  work  of 
the  Association  is  fundamentally  educational.    Its 


Method  Employed  in  Making  the  Study         5 

aim  is  to  establish  each  family  on  the  basis  of  a 
seK-sustaining  unit.  Therefore,  the  results  of  the 
present  study  are  presented  as  nearly  as  possible 
from  the  standpoint  of  the  normal. 

METHOD   EMPLOYED   IN   MAKING   THE    STUDY 

For  the  first  few  years  budgets  were  kept  in  a 
very  informal  way,  but  in  each  case  they  were  used 
as  a  basis  for  the  lessons  planned.  In  1914  sys- 
tematic budget  keeping  was  begun  in  the  families 
of  more  or  less  fixed  income.  By  means  of  these 
expense  books  the  women  have  learned  to  view 
their  home  problems  as  a  whole.  They  have  been 
trained  to  accurate  thinking  and  to  accurate  ex- 
pression. They  have  learned  habits  of  thrift  from 
the  mere  record  on  paper  of  their  expenditure. 
Finally,  they  have  had  the  advantage  of  comparing 
the  records  and  results  of  bad  dietary  habits  with 
good,  and  have  learned  in  the  same  way  to  re- 
organize their  expenditures  for  the  other  items  of 
the  budget. 

The  Association  cares  nothing  for  tables  of 
statistics  that  stop  at  tabulation.  The  tabulations 
must  point  backward  to  some  good  accomplished 
and  onward  to  possible  increased  good  in  the 


6  The  Minimum  Cost  of  Living 

future.  Dr.  Chapin  has  said  that  in  compiHng 
results  of  such  work:  "Both  the  intensive  and  the 
extensive  methods  are  valuable  and  should  supple- 
ment each  other.  With  the  extensive  method  to 
give  breadth  and  perspective,  and  the  intensive 
study  to  give  color  and  definiteness  to  the  outlines 
obtained  by  the  extensive  method,  the  study  of 
the  family  budget  can  best  be  made  to  bring  out 
'the  standard  of  living.'" 

In  formulating  a  plan  of  work,  in  each  family  the 
workers  collected  information  and  made  plans 
somewhat  as  follows: 

Summary  of  the  economic  situation  in 
each  family: 
Instruction  in  budget  making. 
Instruction  m  carrying  out  the  budget 

planned. 
Plan   of   dietary   needed   by   individual 

family. 
Plan  of  clothing  needs. 
Lessons  in  cooking. 
Lessons  in  sewing. 
The  first  step  in  getting  this  information  was  to 
hold  a  friendly  conference  with  the  housekeeper. 
Few  of  the  women  were  accustomed  to  ''taking 


Method  Employed  in  Making  the  Study         7 

account  of  stock."  A  clear  statement  of  the 
family  resources  was  followed  by  careful  instruc- 
tion as  to  how  best  to  divide  the  income.  One 
point  should  be  emphasized — the  women  were  to 
a  large  extent  given  freedom  of  choice,  the  expense 
accounts  being  controlled  only  by  advice. 

Someone  has  called  a  budget  a  ''financial 
prophecy."  The  women  in  the  present  group  were 
taught  that  to  make  a  budget  meant  to  forecast  a 
future  of  improved  health  and  freedom  from  the 
wear  and  tear  of  a  hand-to-mouth  existence.  The 
word  ''food"  came  to  stand  for  something  besides 
the  unpaid  grocery  bill.  "Clothing"  began  to 
fulfill  its  chief  mission — that  of  helping  to  con- 
serve the  family  self-respect  and  happiness.  In 
short,  the  housekeepers  learned  to  adjust  their 
expenditures  so  that  the  account  books  were 
genuine  human  documents. 

The  advance  from  their  customary  slipshod 
methods  to  systematic  adjustment  was  not  made 
in  a  day.  Slowly  and  patiently  housekeeper  and 
teacher  worked  together.  The  progress  was  slow 
but  the  results  satisfactory.  One  of  the  women 
had  never  learned  simple  addition.  In  her  zeal  to 
have  a  satisfactory  expense  book  she  taught  her- 


8  The  Minimum  Cost  of  Living 

self  to  add.  Her  method  at  first  was  to  group  all 
the  figures  of  the  same  denomination  together, 
make  separate  additions  of  each  group  and  then  to 
arrive  at  the  grand  total  by  a  process  equally 
intricate. 

The  women  were  taught  to  care  for  the  chil- 
dren's food  needs  first.  It  was  not  always  easy  to 
convince  them  of  the  necessity  for  this,  since  busy, 
tired  mothers  were  apt  to  say — ''The  children 
must  take  just  what  we  do."  Instruction  there- 
fore included  planning  of  a  dietary  which  would 
fill  the  children's  needs  and  satisfy  the  adults' 
tastes  without  undue  elaboration  of  cooking  proc- 
esses. 

From  the  beginning  the  teachers  realized 
that  the  clothing  budget  must  be  very  carefully 
planned.  Necessarily  the  sum  fixed  was  somewhat 
meagre.  It  was  felt,  however,  that  a  carefully 
administered  clothing  allowance  would  do  much 
to  increase  the  general  morale  of  the  family.  As 
in  the  case  of  food  a  slipping  to  a  low  standard  in 
matters  of  dress  came  almost  invariably  from 
fatigue,  ill  health  and  the  resulting  loss  of  desire 
and  power  to  think  and  plan.  The  direct  influence 
of  neat  and  suitable  clothing  can  hardly  be  over- 


Method  Employed  in  Making  the  Study         9 

estimated.  It  is  perhaps  in  this  item  that  the  lack 
of  margin  in  the  budget  was  most  keenly  felt. 
Practically  all  of  the  families,  however,  were 
recipients  of  gifts  of  clothing  from  friends  and 
relatives  at  various  times  throughout  the  year, 
which  served  somewhat  to  supplement  the  amount 
allowed  for  this  item.  As  is  the  case  with  most 
mothers,  nearly  all  of  these  women  sacrificed  their 
own  tastes  and  comfort  in  clothing  so  that  the 
children  might  be  neatly  and  attractively  dressed. 

These  lessons  were  used  as  one  of  the  means  to 
the  end  of  family  upbuilding.  The  cooking  les- 
sons were  planned  with  the  food  item  in  the  budg- 
et as  a  basis.  The  sewing  lessons  bore  a  similar 
relation  to  the  clothing  item. 

Before  the  granting  of  the  cash  allowance  ex- 
pense accounts  were  simply  records  of  daily  pur- 
chases. When  the  form  was  made  up  for  the 
present  expense  books  experience  of  former  years 
was  the  chief  deciding  factor.  It  was  felt  that  the 
budget  page  must  do  more  than  afford  a  place  for 
record  of  expenses.  This  page  in  order  to  be  of  the 
greatest  use  must  show  an  analysis  of  purchases, 
so  that  the  dietitians  could  see  at  a  glance  whether 
the  family  was  having  too  much  or  too  little  of  any 


>■ 
3 

; 

-4 

— 

3 

E 

1 

^  1 

ll 
1    1 

1  ^ 

1 

1 

Money 
Wagts 

1 

^ 

i 

1 

1 

I 

> 

i 
^  1 

Q 

S 

1     . 
1     § 

S    i 

«^  s 

.s 
Q     > 

I 

i 
i 

1 

I 

! 

n 

I 

1 

if 

1 

i 
i 

m 

B. 

ii 
i 

IM 

J 

] 

m 

.. 

I 

i 

s 

i 

\ 

i 

s 

o 

g 

3 

} 

1 

\ 

Inll 

< 

i 

1 

l3 

1 

\ 

, 

|S 

5J 

liJ 

\ 

S 

III* 

I 

fMn 

I 

. 

HI 

mii 

J 

1 

1 

{ 

1 

1 

i 

1 

j 

3 

® 

1 

■3 
1 

1 

^ 

1 

s 

1 

3 
1 

< 

i 

i 

< 

1 

1 

III 

1 

1 

-'II 

I 

z 

1 

s 

1 

1 

2 

1 

5 

1 

1  =  1 

1 

f 

1 

1 

1 

s 

8 

< 
1 

1 

1 

i 

H 

1 

i 

^ 

1 

1 
< 

s 

1 

1 

1 

i 

5 

J 

a 

12  The  Minimum  Cost  of  Living 

one  food.  The  sewing  teacher  must  be  able  to 
decide  as  to  whether  the  clothing  allowance  was 
being  wisely  spent.  Inevitably  such  a  page  must 
require  much  detail  work.  The  accompanying 
form  has  been  in  successful  use  for  two  years.  The 
housekeepers  have  a  separate  set  of  loose  leaves 
fastened  together  with  brown  paper  covers  for 
each  month.  This  provides  an  easy  way  for  check- 
ing the  transfer  of  the  surplus  or  deficit  as  the  case 
may  be,  to  the  book  for  the  following  month. 

The  aim  was  to  draw  up  a  form  of  record  that 
would  show  just  what  were  the  needs  in  each 
family  from  a  home  economics  standpoint,  what 
instruction  was  given  and  what  were  the  results. 
The  present  sheet  is  now  in  use  in  many  homes, 
and  gives  a  satisfactory  picture  of  each  family  for 
the  year.  The  rise  or  fall  of  the  dietary  from 
month  to  month,  the  fluctuations  of  the  income 
and  the  record  of  instruction  give  data  that  is 
valuable  far  beyond  the  limits  of  the  home  in 
which  it  is  gathered. 


CHAPTER  II 

The  Estimate  of  Minimum  Requirement 

Obviously  such  an  estimate  was  necessary  by 
way  of  beginning,  but  it  was  equally  true  that  the 
workers  must  keep  an  open  mind  towards  the 
weaknesses  as  they  developed  in  their  own  es- 
timates. Furthermore,  they  must  strive  for 
flexibility  so  that  these  standards  might  prove 
guides  rather  than  hampering  boundaries. 

In  this  preliminary  discussion  only  the  main 
consideration  governing  the  estimate  will  be  set 
forth.  The  theoretical  '4deal  division"  of  the 
economists  is  of  value  only  as  a  starting  point, 
since  it  is  not  practical  to  follow  it  in  detail. 

Ideal  Division 

Operating  "Higher 

Income  Rent  Food  Expenses  Clothing  Life" 

$800-1000  20%  or     30%  or     10%  or    15%  or     25%  or 

$160  to  $200  $240  to  $300  $85  to  $100  $120  to  $150  $200  to  $250 

With  the  above  estimate  in  mind  it  may  be  of 
interest  to  trace  the  actual  possibilities  of  an  in- 
come of  $800  to  $1000  in  New  York  City. 

13 


14  The  Minimum  Cost  of  Living 

Practical  Division 

Education 
Operating  Recreation  & 

Income  Rent  Food  Expenses  Clothing  Sundries  Saving 

$800-1000  average  $150  $290-390    $39.00  fuel  &  $120-190  $48-78  Nothing, 

light  left  when 

48 .  00  sundries  sundries  and 

12 .  00  insurance  emergencies 

93 .  00  carfare  &  have  been 

lunches  provided  for. 

$192.00  total 

Providing  the  breadwinner  worked  continuously 
this  would  leave  slender  provision  for  the  in- 
numerable unexpected  needs  that  arise  in  every 
household,  not  to  mention  recreation  and  savings. 
As  a  matter  of  fact,  every  working  year  has  many 
grievous  breaks.  Illness  and  strikes  and  holidays 
and  ''slack  times"  are  a  few  of  the  factors  to  be 
reckoned  with. 

Fortunately  those  who  live  in  Greater  New 
York  have  the  opportunity  for  much  healthful 
recreation  at  little  or  no  cost. 

We  hear  much  of  "living  standards" — but  the 
vital  spark  of  such  a  standard  cannot  be  expressed 
in  figures.  One  must  be  in  contact  with  the  daily 
lives  of  the  families  in  order  to  appreciate  the  ad- 
vance from  discouragement  to  ambition.  Only  in 
this  way  can  the  figures  express  the  good  which 
has  actually  come  to  the  homes. 


The  Estimate  of  Minimum  Requirement      15 

The  chief  items  in  the  estimate  will  now  be  con- 
sidered in  detail. 

Shelter 

Housing  conditions  in  the  poorer  districts  of 
New  York  City  are  characterized  by  a  dreary 
sameness.  On  into  the  miles  run  streets  of  sordid 
tenements.  Each  of  these  tenements  looks  much 
like  its  neighbors,  the  chief  difference  being  that 
one  house  may  have  three  stories  and  another 
four;  one  may  open  into  a  court  at  the  side,  while 
still  another  may  boast,  '^AU  Hght  rooms."  This 
question  of  shelter  had  been  largely  settled  by  the 
families  themselves  before  the  study  began.  It 
was  understood  that  they  had  decided  this  ques- 
tion by  securing  the  home  neighborhood  for  the 
maximum  of — shall  we  say  negative  comfort? — to 
be  had  for  the  amount  within  their  means. 

The  rent  item  was  estimated  at  $12.00  monthly 
for  an  ''average  family"  of  five.  This  gave  fairly 
comfortable  quarters  and  allowed  "IK  persons  to 
a  room." 

Food 

The  ration  allowance  used  in  this  study  was  the 
standard  one  worked  out  for  A.  I.  C.  P.  famihes. 


16  The  Minimum  Cost  of  Living 

In  standardizing  this  allowance  it  was  necessary 
to  consider  a  large  group  of  families,  and  to  so 
express  the  results  as  to  give  figures  that  could  be 
used  by  staff  members  outside  the  Home  Econom- 
ics Division.  Obviously  it  was  not  practical  to 
formulate  a  dietary  every  detail  of  which  could  be 
followed.  Therefore,  the  ration  allowance  was 
based  on  the  accepted  dietary  standards  of  Pro- 
fessor Atwater,  estimating  the  needs  of  the  various 
members  of  each  family  according  to  the  age 
factors  proposed  by  Atwater  and  used  by  the 
Department  of  Agriculture. 

The  table  of  units  for  making  up  food  needs  in 
each  family  is  as  follows : 

Table  of  Units 

Man  (17  years  and  over) 1 . 

Woman  (16  years  and  over) 8 

Boy  16  years 9 

"   12  years-13  years,  inclusive 8 


"   10 

Girl  14 

"   10 

Child  6 

"     2 


-11 
-15 
-13 

-  9 

-  5 


"     under  2  years 3 

Professor  Atwater's  calculations  were  based  on  a 
standard  that  called  for  3,500  calories  per  unit  per 


The  Estimate  of  Minimum  Requirement      17 

day.  This  meant  a  man  at  moderate  muscular 
work.  In  fixing  the  food  standard  for  all  families 
in  the  Association  certain  things  were  taken  into 
account.  For  instance,  frequently  the  man  was 
not  employed,  or  was  in  ill  health.  Many  of  the 
famihes  were  widows'  families.  Nevertheless 
in  all  families  the  needs  of  a  man  were  taken 
as  the  unit.  The  unit  standard  adopted  for  A.  I. 
C.  P.  famihes  was  3,000  calories  per  unit  per 
day.  This  gave  an  allowance  that  might  be  called 
an  adequate  minimum  on  which  to  base  the  needs 
of  women  and  children.  It  was  not  practical  to 
have  a  changing  unit  standard  for  each  family. 
It  was  thought  safe  in  the  practical  working  out 
of  the  dietaries  to  use  the  Atwater  scale  in  spite 
of  the  fact  that  the  unit  basis  was  3,000  calories  and 
not  3,500. 

The  ration  allowance  made  up  from  this  plan 
was  used  with  excellent  results  for  eight  years 
before  the  beginning  of  the  study. 

The  bills-of-fare  possible  were  fairly  satisfactory 
from  the  point  of  view  of  attractive  variety.  To 
administer  the  food  allowance  properly  meant 
careful  buying,  much  thought  in  combining  the 
foods  and  great  care  in  their  preparation.    During 


18 


The  Minimum  Cost  of  Living 


the  time  of  the  study  this  diet  could  be  purchased 
at  the  rate  of  twenty-seven  cents  per  unit  per  day. 
At  the  present  writing,  October  1,  1916,  the  same 
diet  would  cost  thirty-four  cents  per  unit  per  day. 

The  following  diet  is  the  basic  one  for  the 
average  family.  Calculations  for  increase  accord- 
ing to  the  size  of  family  are  made  with  these 
figures  as  ,  the  starting  point.  It  is  understood 
that  the  prices  quoted  varied  slightly  according  to 
locality  and  season. 

Ration  Allowance,  2  Adults,  3  Children — One  Week 

Food       Lbs.  Cost  Cal.  Pro.      P2O5  CaO          Fe         Acid     Base 
Beef     1 

Soup     [...4  S.80  3572  303    6.969  0.2274  0.04545  151.5 
Meat    I 

Codfish 1  .12  515  125    3.150  0.1890  0.00504    53.0 

Eggs Id.  .35  892  81    2.141  0.5352  0.01695    67.8 

Butterine..l  .25  5115  8    0.204  0.1534 

Milk 14qt3.  1.26  8792  419  26.640  21.0129  0.02989               228. 

Cheese V2  .12  997  65    3.230  2.4925                     12.9 

Bread 12  .48  14068  506  10 .  566  1 .  5497  0 .  04226  380 . 0 

Macaroni..  1  .08  1624  60    1.624  0.1624  0.00550    43.8 

Rice 1  broken     .06  1591  36    0.907  0.0477  0.00477    43.0 

Oatmeal... 3  .10  5049  227  11.683  1.6230  0.04868  162.3 

Sugar 3M  -28  6349 

Beans 2  .20  3128  204  10.197  1.9706  0.06256                156.4 

Carrots 4  .12  636  16    1.400  1.0684  0.01018                152.0 

Onions 4  .12  796  25    1.910  0.9552  0.00876                  24.3 

Potatoes..  15  .45  4560  122    7.570  0.8664  0.06840                403.2 

Apples 4  .12  856  6    0.428  0.1883  0.00428                  51.2 

Tomatoes..  1  .05  103  5    0.0265  0.0890  0.00175                  35.0 

Prunes 2  .16  2322  16    1.856  0.4644  0.02090                 185.8 

Cocoa 14  .13  1128  49    2.482  0.3046  0.00564                    1.6 

Tea Vi  .10 

Coffee J^  .12 

Dates 1  .10  1416  9    0.425  0.4243  0.00146                  97.0 

5.57  63509  22S2  93.4085  34.3250  0.38247  914.3  1334.5 


The  Estimate  of  Minimum  Requirement      19 


No.  of  units  3 

Cost  per  unit  per  month  ....$8.19 

"       "   family  per  week ...  .   5.57 
"day 81 

"       "   unit         "     " 27 


Since  the  budget  calculations  are  usually  made 
by  the  month  the  following  table  has  been  ar- 
ranged on  a  monthly  basis.  This  table  is  based 
upon  the  ration  quoted  above.  The  quantities  of 
food  are  of  course  approximate  since  it  would  not 
be  practical  to  weigh  each  portion.  These  tables 
do  give,  however,  the  same  well-balanced  ration  as 
that  described  in  the  beginning  of  this  chapter. 

Ration  Allowances — One  Month 


1  Adult  and  2  Children        1  Adult  and  4  Children       2  Adults  and  3  Children 

1  "         "3 

2  "         "1 

2 

"    2 

1      " 

4 

4 

5 

S 

1  Adult  and  6  Children        1  Adult  and  7  Children        1  Adult  and  8  Children 

2      "         "4 

2 

"   5 

1      " 

9 

2 

..   g 

2      " 
2      " 

7 
8 

Food       Amount 

Amount 

Amount 

Amount        Amount 

Amount 

Bread.  ..34. 66  lbs. 

39.44  lbs. 

52.00  lbs. 

62.83  lbs.     73.66  lbs. 

98.21  lbs. 

Butter  .  .  6.49   " 

6.49  " 

6.49   " 

8.66    "         8.66    " 

10.82   " 

Milk 60.62qts. 

60.62  qts. 

60.62  qts. 

90.93  qts.     90.93  qts. 

90.93  qts. 

Eggs ....   4 .  33  doz. 

4.33  doz. 

4.33  doz. 

6.49  doz.     8.66  doz 

8.66  doz. 

Cereal  .  .12.99  lbs. 

17.32  lbs. 

21.65  lbs. 

25.98  lbs.    28.14  lbs. 

28.14  lbs. 

Tea,  Coffee  and 

Cocoa .  .   3 .  24   " 

4.33  " 

5.41    " 

5.41    "        5.41    " 

6.49   " 

Sugar.  . .14.07   " 

15.15  " 

15.15   " 

20.56    "      24.89   " 

29.22   " 

Meat  ..  .14.07   " 

17.32  " 

22.19   " 

17.32    "      22.73    " 

27.06   " 

Pot 43.3     " 

51.96  " 

64.95   " 

69.28    "      77.94    " 

90.93   " 

Veg 51.96   •' 

51.96  " 

47.63   " 

64.95    "      82.27    " 

95.26   " 

Fruit  .  .  .23.81    " 

25.98  " 

30.31   " 

47.63    "      60.62   " 

69.28  " 

20  The  Minimum  Cost  of  Living 

Anyone  who  has  had  experience  in  working  with 
the  tenement  population  knows  how  intimate  a 
connection  exists  between  food  and  the  more  com- 
mon diseases  of  poverty.  Among  our  seventy-five 
famines,  before  the  granting  of  the  allowance, 
record  after  record  reads  — ''Children  anaemic," 
''Mother  suffering  from  malnutrition."  Because 
of  this,  special  care  has  been  taken  with  the  dietary, 
and  part  two  will  set  forth  the  results. 

Table  for  Converting  Unit  Needs  into  Dollars  and  Cents 

Cost  per  month  at  Cost  per  month  at 

Units  0.27  per  day  Units  $.30  per  day 

1.0 $  8.19 1.0 %  9.10 

1.1 9.00 1.1 10.01 

1.2 9.83 1.2 10.92 

1.3 10.65 1.3 11.63 

1.4 11.47 1.4 12.74 

1.5 12.29 1.5 13.65 

1.6 13.10 1.6 14.56 

1.7 13.93 1.7 15.47 

1.8 14.74 1.8 16.38 

1.9 15.56 1.9 17.29 

2.0 16.38 2.0 18.20 

2.1 17.20 2.1 19.11 

2.2 18.02 2.2 20.02 

2.3 18.84 2.3 20.93 

2.4 19.66 2.4 21.84 

2.5 20.48 2.5 22.75 

2.6 21.29 2.6 23.66 

2.7 22.11 2.7 24.57 


The  Estimate  of  Minimum  Requirement      21 

Cost  per  month  at  Cost  per  month  at 

Units  $.27  per  day  Units  $.30  per  day 

2.8 22.93 2.8 $25.48 

2.9 23.75 2.9 26.39 

3.0 24.57 3.0 27.30 

3.1 25.39 3.1 28.21 

3.2 26.21 3.2 29.12 

3.3 27.02 3.3 30.03 

3.4 27.85 3.4 30.94 

3.5 28.67 3.5 31.85 

3.6 29.48 3.6 32.76 

3.7 30.30 3.7 33.67 

3.8 31.12 3.8 34.58 

3.9 31.94 3.9 35.49 

4.0 32.76 4.0 38.40 

4.1 33.58 4.1 37.31 

4.2 34.40 4.2 38.22 

4.3 35.22 4.3 29.13 

4.4 36.04 4.4 40.04 

4.5 36.86 4.5 40.95 

4.6 37.67 4.6 41.86 

4.7 38.49 4.7 42.77 

4.8 39.31 4.8 43.68 

4.9 40.13 4.9 44.59 

5.0 40.95 5.0 45.50 

5.1 41.77 5.1 46.41 

5.2 42.59 5.2 47.32 

5.3 43.41 5.3 48.23 

5.4 44.23 5.4 49.14 

5.5 45.05 5.5 50.05 

5.6 45.86 5.6 50.98 

5.7 46.68 5.7 51.87 

5.8 47.50 5.8 52.78 

5.9 48.32 5.9 53.69 


22  The  Minimum  Cost  of  Living 


Cost  per  month  at 

Cost  per  month  at 

Units 

$.27  per  day 

Units 

$.30  per  day 

6.0 

49.14 

....6.0... 

$54.60 

6.1 

49.96 

....6 

.1.  . 

55.51 

6.2 

50.76 

6 

....6 

.2. 
.3.  . 

56.42 

6.3 

51.60 

57.33 

6.4 

52.42 

....6 

.4.  . 

58.24 

6.5 

53.24 

....6 

.5.  . 

59.15 

6.6 

54.05 

6 

6 

60.06 

6.7 

54.87 

6 

7 

60.97 

6.8 

55.69 

....6 
6, 

.8.  .  , 
9 

61.88 

6.9 

56.51 

62.79 

7.0 

57.33 

....7, 

.0.  . 

63.70 

7.1 

58.15 

....7, 

.1.  . 

64.61 

7.2 

58.97 

....7, 

.2.  . 

65.52 

7.3 

59.79 

7 

3 

66  43 

7.4 

60.61 

....7 

.4.  . 

67.34 

7.5 

61.45 

....7, 

.5.  . 

68.25 

7.6 

62.24 

. .  .  .7 

.6.  . 

69.16 

7.7 

63.06 

7, 

7 

70.07 

7.8 

63.88 

7, 

8 

70.98 

7.9 

64.70 

....7, 

.9.  .. 

71.69 

8.0 

65.52 

....8, 

0.  .  . 

72.90 

8.1 

66.34 

....8 

,1.  . 

73.71 

8.2 

67.16 

....8. 

.2.  .  , 

74.62 

8.3 

67.98 

....8, 

3.  .  . 

75.33 

8.4 

68.60 

....8, 

4.  .  . 

76.44 

8.5 

69.62 

....8. 

5.  .  . 

77.35 

8.6 

70.43 

8 

6 

78.26 

8.7 

71.25 

8. 

7 

79.17 

8.8 

72.07 

8, 

8 

80 . 08 

8.9 

72.89 

....8. 

,9.  .  . 

80.99 

The  Estimate  of  Minimum  Requirement      23 

Fuel  and  Light 

Information  was  also  sought  on  this  item  and  an 
average  of  all  the  neighborhoods  of  the  city  showed 
that  a  tenement  apartment  of  three  rooms  could 
be  heated  and  lighted  at  the  rate  of  $3.25  per 
month,  provided  the  problem  were  viewed  by  the 
year.  According  to  season  it  would  read  something 
like  this: 

Winter $5.00  to  $6.00 

Spring  and  Autumn $2 .  50  to  $3 .  50 

Midsummer $2.00 

In  estimating  needs  for  this  item  this  allowance 
was  not  increased  as  the  size  of  the  apartments 
increased,  since  most  of  the  families  made  constant 
use  of  only  three  rooms,  even  though  they  might 
possess  more. 

Clothing 

The  clothing  needs  were  difficult  to  decide  upon. 
It  is  obviously  not  an  easy  thing  to  standardize 
clothing.  During  the  previous  five  years,  however, 
there  has  been  in  the  informal  budgets  kept  by 
the  women  much  light  thrown  upon  this  subject. 
The  tentative  sum  fixed  upon  was  $2.00  per  in- 
dividual per  month.    It  was  understood  that  this 


24  The  Minimum  Cost  of  Living 

would  provide  sufficient  clothing  only  on  condition 
that  the  mother  would  have  time  and  strength  as 
well  as  ability  to  do  her  own  sewing  and  mending. 

It  will  be  understood  that  the  clothing  division 
suggested  below  is  far  from  satisfying  the  workers. 
It  is  merely  an  attempt  to  make  the  best  possible 
use  of  a  necessarily  small  clothing  allowance.  The 
final  figures  are  based  largely  on  actual  practice. 
The  most  casual  observer  will  see  at  once  that 
there  is  no  provision  for  the  small  but  necessary 
accessories  of  dress.  The  annual  clothing  allowance 
for  man,  woman  and  four  children  is  as  follows: 
man,  $30.20;  woman,  $28.75;  boy  14,  $26.05;  girl 
12,  $22.25;  girl  6,  $17.85;  girl  3,  $10.75. 

The  following  division  of  this  allowance  is  quoted 
from  ''Clothing  the  Family,"  by  Mary  A.  Ditmas. 
Mrs.  Ditmas  while  sewing  teacher  of  the  division 
did  some  intensive  work  in  clothing  budgets. 

DIVISION    OF    CLOTHING    ALLOWANCE    FOR    MAN, 
WOMAN  AND  4  CHILDREN 

Man 
1  suit $10.00 

1  pair  trousers 2 .  00 

2  light  shirts  at  $.75  each 1 .  50 

3  colored  shirts  at  $.75  each 2 .  25 

2  pairs  shoes 5 .  00 

8  pairs  hose  at  $.15  a  pau- 1 .  20 


The  Estimate  of  Minimum  Requirement      25 

Underwear: 

Winter,  2  suits  at  $1.00  each $2.00 

Summer,  3  suits  at  $.75  each 2.50 

2  hats 1.75 

1  necktie 25 

1  pair  suspenders 25 

4  collars 50 

2  sets  sleeping  garments 1 .00 

Total $30.20 


Clothing  for  Woman — One  Year 

Shoes,  2  pairs,  $2.50  each $  5.00 

Repairs 1 .  25 

Aprons,  3  (homemade) 45 

Hats,  Winter  hat 1.50 

Summer  hat 1 .  25 

Coats,  Winter,  1 3.00 

Summer,  1 2.00 

Dresses,  2  wash  dresses  (homemade) 2 .  00 

2  house  dresses  (homemade) 1 .  50 

Skirts,  1  woolen 2 .00 

Waists,  2  wash  waists  (homemade) 1 .00 

Hosiery,  6  pairs 60 

Gloves,  1  pair  cotton 25 

1  pair  woolen 75 

Underwear: 

Winter,  three  union  suits,  $.75  each 2.25 

Summer,  three  union  suits,  $.25  each 75 

2  corset  covers  (homemade) 75 

2  flannelette  skirts  (homemade) 50 

2  night  dresses  (homemade) 70 

1  pair  corsets 1 .  00 

Linen 50 

Total $28.75 


26  The  Minimum  Cost  of  Limig 

Girl  of  Twelve  Years 

Shoes,  2  pair  at  $2.00 .....$  4.00 

Repairs 1 .  25 

1  pair  rubbers 65 

Gloves,  2  pair  woolen  at  $.25 50 

Hats,  Winter  (trimmed  at  home) 1 .00 

Summer  (trimmed  at  home) 75 

Coats,  Winter 2.50 

Summer 1 .  00 

Sweater  (homemade) 1 .  25 

Dresses,  one  woolen  dress 1 .  50 

3  wash  dresses  (homemade)  (at  $.50) 1 .50 

Skirts,  1  woolen  skirt  (homemade) 1.00 

Waists,  2  middy  blouses  (homemade) 75 

Hosiery,  6  pair  at  $.10 60 

Underwear: 

Winter,  3  union  suits  at  $.50 1 .  50 

Summer,  3  union  suits  at  $.10 30 

2  flannelette  skirts  (homemade) 80 

2  night  dresses  (homemade) 60 

2  white  muslin  petticoats  (homemade) 30 

Ribbons,  etc 50 

Total $22.25 


Boy  of  Fourteen  Years 

Overcoats,  winter,  one  coat $  4 .  50 

One  sweater 1 .00 

Hats,  two 75 

Suits,  one 2 .  50 

Trousers,  3  wash  trousers 1 .  50 

One  woolen  trouscr 75 

Blouses,  4  cotton  (homemade)  at  $.20 80 

3  outing  blouses 1 .  50 

Gloves,  1  pair 25 

Hosiery,  12  pairs  stockings 1 .  20 


The  Estimate  of  Minimum  Requirement      27 

Shoes,  3  pairs  at  SI. 75 $  5.25 

Repairs 2 .  00 

Rubbers 60 

Underwear: 

Summer,  3  suits  at  $.25 75 

Winter,  3  suits  at  $.75 2 .25 

Underbodies  (homemade) 45 

Total $26.05 

Girl  op  Six  Years 

Shoes,  2  pairs  at  $1.25 $  2.50 

Repairs 1.25 

Rubbers 60 

Gloves,  2  pairs  woolen  at  $.25 50 

Hats,  1  felt  (trimmed  at  home) 75 

1  summer  (trimmed  at  home) 50 

Coats,  winter  (made  at  home) 1 .  75 

Summer  (made  at  home) 1 .  00 

Sweater  (made  at  home) 50 

Dresses,  2  woolen  (homemade) 1 .  50 

4  wash  dresses  (homemade) 1 .  75 

Hosiery,  6  pairs  at  $.10 60 

Underwear,  3  underwaists  (homemade) 35 

Winter,  3  union  suits  at  $.50 1 .  50 

Summer,  3  shirts 30 

4  pairs  muslin  drawers  (homemade) 60 

2  flannelette  skirts  (homemade) 50 

2  cotton  petticoats 50 

2  nightgowns 40 

Ribbons 50 

Total $17.85 

Girl  of  Three  Years 

Shoes,  2  pairs  at  $1.25 $  2.50 

Repairs 75 

Hats,  2  caps  at  $.25 50 


28  The  Minimum  Cost  of  Living 

Suits  or  dresses: 

4  wash  suits  or  dresses  (homemade) $  1 .  50 

4  pairs  rompers  (homemade) 60 

Coats,  1  winter 2 .  00 

1  summer  (homemade) 1 .00 

Hosiery,  4  pairs  stockings 40 

Underwear,  3  winter  union  suits  at  $.25 75 

3  summer  union  suits  at  $.15 45 

2  nightgowns  (homemade) 30 

Total $10.75 

SUNDRIES 

The  workers  realized  that  the  provision  possible 
for  this  item  would  be  inadequate.  The  amount 
finally  fixed  was  $1.00  each  for  the  first  three  mem- 
bers of  the  family  per  month,  and  fifty  cents  each 
for  each  additional  person.  This  provided  only  for 
the  barest  necessities.  This  item  had  also  to  in- 
clude provision  for  insurance.  The  Association 
advocates  insurance  only  for  the  breadwinner. 
Most  of  the  families,  however,  make  payments  for 
children's  insurance. 


PART  II 

THE  SEVENTY-FIVE  EXPENSE  ACCOUNTS 
IN  DETAIL 


The  figures  on  the  following  pages  give  the  main 
items  in  the  budget,  and  the  actual  expenditures 
for  these  items  in  each  family.  The  estimate 
spoken  of  has  been  slightly  modified  to  meet 
individual  needs.  The  estimate  for  sundries  at 
the  time  the  study  was  made  was  $2.00  per 
family  per  month.  The  increase  according  to  size 
of  family  came  later.  The  sum  paid  for  insurance 
by  each  family  has  been  added  to  the  estimate  for 
sundries.  When  the  $2.00  rate  was  in  use  it  was 
understood  that  special  needs  must  be  provided  for 
through  some  other  source. 


Expense  Accounts  of  the  Seventy-five  Families    31 

YEARLY  SUMMARY  OF  SEVENTY-FIVE  BUDGETS 

Est.  of  needs        Act.  Exp.   Act.  Inc.  Act,  over  Act.  under 
1  mo.       12  mo.       12  mo.       12  mo.       budget      budget     Summary 

Family  No.  1,  Woman,  2  children,  13,  8 

Rent free free free  .  .  .$386.00 

Food 17.33..   207.96..   289.48 $81.52 

F.  &L....     3.25..     39.00..     24.24 $14.76..BaI.    end 

Clo 6.00..     72.00..     29.82 42. 18.  .of  12  mo. 

Sund 3.30..     39.60..     40.90 1.30 $1.56 


$29.88. .$358.56. .$384.44. .$386.00. .$82.82. .$56.94 

Family  No.  2,  Woman,  2  children,  11,  5 

Rent $13.00. .$156.00. .$156.00. .$520.33 

Food 17.33..   207.96..   240.89 $32.93 

F.&L 3.25..     39.00..     17.15 $21.85 

Clo 6.00..     72.00..     33.83 38.17. .Bal.    end 

Sund 3.07..     36.84..     61.29 24.45 of  12  mo. 

Baby'sBd 2.30 2.30 $8.87 

$42.65. .$511.80. .$511.46. .$520.33. .$59.68. .$60.02 

Family  No.  3,  Woman,  2  children,  15,  11 

Rent free free free $269.96 

Food $17.33.  .$209.96.  .$193.18 $16.78 

F.&L 3.25..     39.00..     43.21 $4.21 Bal.    end 

Clo 6.00..     72.00..      15.89 56. 11.  .of  12  mo. 

Sund 3.00..     36.00..      15.16 20.84. .$2.52 


$29.58. .$356.96. .$267.44. .$269.96. .$  4.21. .$93.73 

Family  No.  4,  Woman,  3  children,  10,  9,  6 

Rent $13.00. .$156.00. .$156.05. .$569.11. .$      .05 

Food 18.02..   216.24..    286.70 70.46 


F.&L 3.25..     39.00..     41.36 2.36  Bal.    end 

Clo 8.00..     96.00..     39.97 $56.03.  .of  12  mo. 

Sund 5.00..     39.60..     42.19 2.59 $2.84 


$47.27. .$546.84. .$566.27. .$569.11. .$75.46. .$56.03 

Family  No.  5,  Woman,  3  children,  9,  6,  4 

Rent $12.00. .$144.00. .$150.00. .$483.68. .$  6.00 

Food 17.33..   207.96..    187.36 $20.60 

F.&L 3.25..     39.00..     29.19 9. 81.. Bal.    end 

Clo 6.00..      72.00..     60.39 11.61.  .of  12  mo. 

Sund 3.73..     44.76..     49.16 4.40 $7.58 


$42.31. .$507.72. .$476.10. .$483.68. .$10.40. .$42.02 


32 


The  Minimum  Cost  of  Living 


Est.  of  needs        Act.  Exp.  Act.  Inc. 
1  mo.       IS  mo.       12  mo.       12  mo. 

Family  No.  6,  Woman,  3  children,  8,  6,  4 

Rent $10.00. .$120.00. .$120.00. .$515.61 

Food 18.07..   210.84. 

F.  &L....     3.25..     39.00. 

Clo 8.00..     96.00. 

Sund 4.39..     52.68. 


Act.  over  Act.  under 
budget      budget     Summary 


256.05 $39.21 

27.19 $11.81..Bal.    end 

47.37 48.63.  .of  12  mo. 

64.95 12.27 $.05 


$43.71. .$524.52. .$515.56. .$515.61. .$51.48. .$60.44 


Family  No.  7,  Woman,  3  children,  8,  6,  4 

Rent $10.00. .$120.00. .$122.00. .$602.44. .$  2.00. 


Food 

.    17.20. 

206.40. 

F.  &L... 

.     3.25. 

39.00. 

Clo 

.     8.00. 

96.00. 

Sund.... 

.     5.25. 

63.00. 

219.72 13.32 

31.77 $  7.23.  .Bal.    end 

47.06 48.94.  .of  12  mo. 

134.49 71.49 $47.40 


$43.70. .$524.40. .$555.04. .$602.44. .$86.81. .$56.17 


Family  No.  8,  Woman,  3  children,  17,  11,  5 

Rent $11.00. .$132.00. .$151.00. .$701.36. .$19.00. 


Food . .  . 

. .   27.85. 

.   334.20 

F.  &L.. 

..     3.25. 

.     39.00 

Clo 

.  .    10.00. 

.   120.00 

Sund . . . 

. .     7.68. 

.     92.16 

$59.78. 

.$717.36 

307 .  08 $26 .  52 

16.85 22. 15.. Bal.    end 

79.53 40.47.  .of  12  mo. 

126.05 34.49 $19.65 


.$681. 71.. $701. 36.. $53. 49. .$89. 14 


Family  No.  9,  Woman,  3  children,  14,  10,  8 

Rent $12.00.  .$144.00.  .$135.00.  .$535.03 $  9.00. 


Food . . 
F.  &L. 
Clo. . .  . 
Sund.. 


20.27.. 
3.25.. 
8.00.. 
3.47.. 


243.24., 
39.00. 
96.00. 
41.64.. 


220.76 22.46 

32.59 0.41.. Bal.    end 

43.54 52. 46.. of  12  mo. 

79.90 $38.26 $23.22 


$46.99. .$563.88. .$511.81. .$535.03. .$38.26. .$90.33 


Family  No.  10,  Woman,  3  children,  11,  8,  6 

Rent $16. 00.. $192. 00.. S1S4. 00.. $594. 46 $  8.00. 


Food . . . 

. .   18.84. 

.   220.08. 

F.  &L.. 

..     3.25. 

.     39.00. 

Clo.  .  .  . 

. .     8.00. 

.     96.00. 

Sund . . . 

. .     3.38. 

.     40.56. 

$49.47. 

.$593.64. 

291.49 $65.41 

28.31 10. 69.. Bal.    end 

35.18 60. 82.. of  12  mo. 

47.27 6.71 $8.21 


.$586.25. .$594. 46.. $72. 12.. $79. 51 


Expense  Accounts  of  the  Seventy-five  Families    33 

Est.  of  needs        Act.  Exp.  Act.  Inc.  Act.  over  Act.  under 
1  mo.       12  mo.       12  mo.       12  mo.       budget      budget      Summary 
Family  No.  11,  Woman,  3  children,  11,  10,  5 

Rent $  8.00..$  96.00..$  84.00.  .$491.05 $12.00 

Food 21.84..   262.08..  259.35 2.72 

F.  &L 3.25..     39.00..     33.61 5.39..Bal.    end 

Clo 8.00..     96.00..     57.13 38.87.  .of  12  mo. 

Sund 2.91..     34.92..     56.28 $21.36 $.68 


$44.00. .$528.00. .$490.37. .$491.05. .$21.36.  .$58.98 

Family  No.  12,  Woman,  3  children,  8,  6,  4 

Rent $13.00. .$156.00. .$156.00. .$572.27 

Food 20.02..   240.24..   261.47 $21.23 


F.  &L 3.25..     39.00..     30.40 $8.60..Bal.    end 

Clo 8.00..     96.00..     72.91 23.09.  .of  12  mo. 

Sund 3.60..     43.20..     51.24 8.04 $.25 


$47.87. .$572.02. .$572.02. .$572.27. .$29.27. .  $31.69 

Family  No.  13,  Woman,  3  children,  12,  10,  7 

Rent $21.00.  .$252.00.  .$252.00  .  .$731.48 

Food 20.48..   245.76..   336.11 $90.35 

F.&L 3.25..     39.00..     35.83 $3.27..Bal.    end 

Clo 8.00..     96.00..     48.00 48.00.  .of  12  mo. 

Sund 3.95..     47.40..     56.21 8.81 $3.33 


$56. 68.  .$680. 16.. $728. 15.. $731. 48.. $99. 16.. $51. 27 

Family  No.  14,  Woman,  3  children,  12,  10,  7 

Rent $18. 00.. $216. 00.. $216. 00.. $711. 14 

Food 20.48..   245.76..   313.76 $68.00 

F.&L 3.25..     39.00..     36.85 $2.15 

Clo 8.00..     96.00..     63.45 32. 55.. Hal.    end 

Sund 2.00..     24.00..      38.50 14.50 of  12  mo. 

C.  F 3.90..     46.80..     35.80 11. 00.. $6. 78 


$55.63. .$667.56. .$704.36. .$711.14. .$82.50. .$45.70 

Family  No.  15,  Woman,  3  children,  10,  9,  3 

Rent $11. 00.. $132. 00.  .$1.32.00  ..  $516.16 


Food 

.   22.11., 

265.32. 

F.&L... 

.     3.25.. 

39.00 

Clo 

,.     8.00., 

,      96.00 

Sund. ... 

.      2.00.. 

24.00, 

259.24 $  6.08 

32.81 6. 19.. Hal.    end 

53.44 42.56.  .of  12  mo. 

32.66 $  8.66 $6.01 


$46.36.  .$556.32.  .$510. 15.. $516. 16..$  8.66.   «?^4.83 


34  The  Minimum  Cost  of  Living 

Est.  of  needs       Act.  Exp.    Act.  Inc.  Act.  over  Act.  under 
1  mo.       12  mo.       12  mo.       12  mo.       budget       budget      Summary 
Family  No.  16,  Woman,  3  children,  12,  8,  6 

Rent $13.00.  .$156.00.  .$143.00.  .$642.86 $13.00 

Food 28.21..   338.52..  306.51 32.01 

F.  &L 3.25..     39.00..     32.55 6.45 

Clo 8.00..     96.00..     56.53 39.47.  .Bal.    end 

Sund 3.66..     43.92..     63.72 $19.80 of  12  mo. 

C.  F 4.60..     55.20..     31.25 23,95.  .$9.30 


$60. 72.. $728. 64.. $633. 56.. $642. 86.. $19. 80. $114. 85 

Family  No.  17,  Woman,  3  children,  10,  8,  5 

.$  84. 00.. $503. 29 $84.00 

.   270.10 $53.86 

.     36.23 2. 77.. Bal.    end 

.     57.97 38.03.  .of  12  mo. 

.     44.53 2.53 • $10.46 


Rent .  .  . 

..$14.00. 

.$108.00. 

Food. .. 

. .    18.02. 

.   216.24. 

F.&L.. 

.  .      3.25. 

.      39.00. 

Clo 

. .     8.00. 

.      96.00. 

Sund . . . 

.  .      3.50. 

.     42.00. 

$46. 77.. $561. 24. .$492.83. .$503.29. .$56. 39. $124. 80 

Family  No.  18,  Woman,  3  children,  14,  11,  4 

Rent $10.00.  .$120.00.  .$  99.25.  .$406.25 $20.75 

Food 19.66..   235.92..   230.62 5.30 

F.&L 3.25..     39.00..     39.77 $     .77 Bal.    end 

Clo 8.00..     96.00..     54.74 41.26.  .of  12  mo. 

Sund 2.00..     24.00..     30.42 6.42 $11.45 


$42.91. .$514.92. .$454.80. .$466.25. .$  7.19. .$67.31 

Family  No.  19,  Woman,  3  children,  12,  10,  9 

Rent $13.00.  .$156.00.  .$149.50.  .$526.65 $  6.50 

Food 18.44..   221.28..    241.29 $20.01 

F.&L....      3.25..      39.00..     24.81 14. 19.. Bal.    end 

Clo 8.00..      96.00..      57.35 38.65.  .of  12  mo. 

Sund 2.65..      31.80..     42.51 10.71 $11.19 


$45.34. .$544.08. .$515.40. .$526.65. .$30.72. .$59.34 

Family  No.  20,  Woman  3  children,  11,  9,  6, 

Rent $  1.00..$  12.00..$  12.00. .$494.61 

Food 18.02..   216.24..   290.00 $73.76 

F.&L 3.25..     39.00..     36.90. .^ $2. 10. .Bal.    end 

Clo 8.00..     96.00..     65.05 30.95.  .of  12  mo. 

Sund 3.73..   44.76..   75.25 30.49 $15.41 


$34. 00.. $408. 00.. $479. 20. .$494.01 .$104.25. .$33.05 


Expense  Accounts  of  the  Seventy-five  Families    35 

Est.  of  needs        Act.  Exp.  Act.  Inc.   Act.  over  Act.  under 
1  mo.       12  mo.       12  mo.       12  mo.       budget      budget      Summary 
Family  No.  21,  Woman,  3  children,  14,  11,  8 

.$111. 00.. $554. 63. .$15.00 

.   277.02 41.10 

.     29.69 $9.31..Bal.    end 

.     48.58 47. 42.. of  12  mo. 

.      69.56 22.16 $18.78 


Rent.  .. 

..$  8.00. 

.$  96.00. 

Food... 

. .    19.65. 

.    2.35.92. 

F.  &  L. . 

.  .      3.25. 

.     39.00. 

Clo 

. .     8.00. 

.      96.00. 

Sund... 

..     3.95. 

.     47.40. 

$42. 85.. $514. 32.. $535. 85. .$554. 63.. $78. 26.. $56. 73 

Family  No.  22,  Woman,  3  children,  10,  7,  4 

Rent $10.00.  .$120.00.  .$105.00.  .$415.89 $15.00 

Food 25.39..    304.68..    237.18 67.50 

F.  &L 3.25..      39.00..     43.00 $4.06 Bal.    end 

Clo 10.00..    120.00..      11.76 108.24.  .of  12  mo. 

Sund 4.00..     48.00..      17.32 30.68. .$1.57 


$52. 64.. $631. 68.. $414. 32.. $415. 89..$  4. 06. $221. 42 

Family  No.  23,  Woman,  3  children,  11,  8,  5 

Rent $15.00. .$180.00. .$180.00. .$698.86 

Food 24.57..    294.84..   311.14 $16.30 

F.  &L 3.25..     39.00..     41.59 2.59 

Clo 8.00..      96.00..     42.29 .$53.71.  .Bal.    end 

Simd 4.50..     54.00..     98.77 44.77 of  12  mo. 

C.  F 2.60..     31.20..     22.00 9. 20.. $3. 07 


$57.92. .$695.04. .$695.79. .$698.86. .$63.66. .$62.91 

Family  No.  24,  Woman,  3  children,  12,  11,  10    . 

Rent $13.00.  .$156.00.  .$149.50.  .$559.09 $  6.50 

Food 20.47..    245.64..   267.18 $21.54 

F.&L 3.25..     39.00..      25.06 13.94. .Bal.    end 

Clo 8.00..     96.00..     78.20 17.80.  .of  12  mo. 

Sund 3.50..     42.00..     32.66 9. 34.. $6. 49 


$48.22. .$578.64. .$552.60. .$559.09. .$21.54. .$47.58 

Family  No.  25,  Woman,  3  children,  14,  10,  8 

Rent $11.00. .$132.00. .$138.00. .$657.66. .$  6.00 

Food 29.48..   353.76..   322.37 $31.39 

F.&L 3.25..     39.00..     34.35 4. 65.. Bal.    end 

Clo 10.00..    120.00..     60.42 59.58.  .of  12  mo. 

Sund 4.60..      55.20..      92.21 37.01 $10.31 


$58.33. .$699.96. .$647.35. .$657.66. .$41.01. .$95.62 


36 


The  Minimum  Cost  of  Living 


Est.  of  needs        Act.  Exp.  Act.  Inc.  Act.  over  Act.  under 
1  mo.       12  mo.       12  mo.       12  mo.       budget      budget      Summary 
Family  No.  26.  Woman,  3  children,  10,  8,  5 

Rent $14. 00.. $168. 00.. $157. 00., $651. 46 $11.00 

Food 24.47..   293.64..   309.12 $15.48 

F.&L 3.25..     39.00..      17.83 21.17. .Bal.    end 

CIo 8.00..     96.00..     71.83 24. 17.  .of  12  mo. 

Sund 3.51..     42.12..     91.64 49.52 $4.04 


$53.23. .$638.76. .$647.42. .$651.46. .$65.00. .$56.34 


Family  No.  27,  Woman,  3  children,  15,  10,  9 

Rent $14.00. .$168.00. .$179.50. .$008.88. .$11.50 

Food 22.11..   265.32..   238.63 $26.69 

F.&L 3.25..     39.00..     36.18 2. 82.. Bal.    end 

Clo 8.00..     96.00..    101.71 5.71 of  12  mo. 

Sund 3.00..      36.00..      51.32 15.32 $1.54 


$50.36.  .$704.32.  . .$607 . 34 .  . $608 . 88 .  .$32.53.  .$29.51 


Family  No.  28,  Woman,  3  children,  12,  10,  7 


Rent $13.00. 

Food 22.11. 

F.&L....     3.25. 

Clo 8.00. 

Sund 2.00. 


$156 

00 

265 

32 

39 

00 

96 

00 

24 

00 

.$156.00. .$592.74 

.    259.55 $  5.77 

.      26.88 12.12     Bal.    end 

.      43.69 52.31.  .of  12  mo. 

.      65.04 $41.04 $35.58 


$48.36. .$580.32. .$551.16. .$592.74. .$41.04. .$71.20 


Family  No.  29,  Woman,  3  children,  11,  8,  6 

Rent $10.00.  .$120.00.  .$115.00.  .$396.55 $  5.00. 


Food . . . 

.   19.66. 

235.92 

F.&L... 

.     3.25. 

39.00 

Clo 

.     8.00. 

96.00 

Sund . . . 

.     3.30. 

39.60 

193.67 42.25 

15.95 23.05     Bal.    end 

34.81 61. 19.. of  12  mo. 

33.41 6. 19. .$3.71 


$44.21.  .$530.52.  .$392.84.  .$396.55 $137.68 


Family  No.  30,  Woman,  4  children,  15,  13,  12,  10 


Rent $19.00.  .$228.00 


Food 27.84.. 

F.&L.  ..  3.25.. 

Clo 10.00.. 

Sund 2.00.. 


334 . 08 
39.00 

120.00 
24.00 


$.52.09.  ..$745.08 


.$208.25.  .$671.38 $19.75 

.    342 .  63 $  8 .  55 

...39.44 M Bal.    end 

.     31.31 88.69.  .of  12  mo. 

.   47.15 23.15 $2.60 


.$668.78. .$071.38. .$32. M  $108.44 


Expense  Accounts  of  the  Seventy-five  Families    37 

Est.  of  needs        Act.  Exp.  Act.  Inc.  Act.  over  Act.  under 
1  mo.       12  mo.       12  mo.       12  mo.       budget      budget      Summary 
Family  No.  31,  Woman,  4  children,  13,  11,  9,  7 

Rent $14.00.  .S168.00.  .$148.00.  .$515.10.  .  $26.38.  .$20.00 

Food 24.57..  294.84..   220.55 74.29 

F.&L 3.25..     39.00..     18.92 20.08.  .Bal.    end 

Clo 10.00..    120.00..     55.59 64  .41.  .of  12  mo. 

Sund 3.73..     44.76..     71.14 $.90 


$55.55. .$666.60. .$514.20. .$515.10. .$26. 38. $178. 78 

Family  No.  32,  Woman,  4  children,  10,  8,  6,  5 

Rent $12.00.  .$144.00.  .$132.00.  .$502.07 $12.00 

Food 22.93..  255.16..   265.07 $  9.91 

F.&L 3.25..     39.00..     22.65 16.35.  .Bal.    end 

Clo 10.00..   120.00..     47.19 72.81.  .of  12  mo. 

Sund 4.00..     48.00..     35.15 12.85. .$.01 


$52.18. .$606.16. .$502.06. .$502.07. .$  9. 91. $114. 01 


Family  No.  33,  Woman,  4  children,  12,  9,  8,  6 

Rent $21.00.  .$252.00.  .$243.00.  .$024.60 $  9.00 

Food 22.11..   265.32..   245.70 19.62 

F.&L 3.25..     39.00..     20.83 14. 17.. Bal.    end 

Clo 10.00..   120.00..     28.01 91.99.  .of  12  mo. 

Sund 6.98..     83.76..      78.19 5. 57.. $4. 87 


$63,34.  .$760.08.  .$619.73.  .$624.60 $140.35 


Family  No.  34,  Woman,  4  children,  15,  13,  11,  4 

Rent $12. 00.. $144. 00.. $176. 00.. $752. 66.. $32. 00 

Food 34.40..  412.80..   385.54 $27.26 

F.&L 3.25..     39.00..     39.02 02 Bal.    end 

Clo 10.00..   120.00..     70.36 49.64.  .of  12  mo. 

Sund 4.00..     48.00..      79.32 31.32 $2.42 


$63.65. .$763.80. .$750.24. .$752.66. .$63.34. .$76.90 

Family  No.  35,  Woman,  4  children,  9,  7,  6,  4 

Rent $14.00. .$168.00. .$168.00. .$625.39 

Food 20.47..   245.64..  251.08 $  5.44 

F.&L 3.25..     39.00..     29.65 $  9.35.  .Bal.    end 

Clo 9.00..   108.00..     88.57 19.43.  .of  12  mo. 

Sund 3.95..     47.40..     81.06 33.66 $7.03 


$50.67. .$608.04. .$618.36. .$625.39. .$39.10. .$28.78 


38  The  Minimum  Cost  of  Living 

Est.  of  needs        Act.  Exp.  Act.  Inc.   Act.  over  Act.  under 
1  mo.        12  mo.        12  mo.        12  mo.       budget      budget      Summary 
Family  No.  36,  Woman,  4  children,  16,  11,  9,  8 

Rent S13. 50.. $162. 00.. $161. 65.. $647. 47 $      .35 

Food 27 . 02.  .    324 . 24 .  .    324 . 87 $      .63 

F.  &L 3.25..     39.00..      54.50 15.40 Bal.    end 

Clo 10.00..    120.00..     52.37 67.63.  .of  12  mo. 

Simd 2.00..     24.00..     33.51 9.51 $20.67 


$55.77. .$669.24. .$626.80. .$647.47. .$25.54. .$67.98 


Family  No.  37,  Woman,  4  children,  14,  13,  11,  9 

Rent $  18.00.  .$406.26.  .$18.00 

Food $22. 11.. $265. 32..    258.24 $  7.08 

F.  &L 3.25..     39.00..      34.70 4. 30.. Bal.    end 

Clo 10.00..    120.00..     55.36 64.64.  .of  12  mo. 

Sund 3.30..     39.60..     39.45 15.. $.51 


$38.66. .$463.92. .$405.75. .$406.26. .$18.00. .$76.17 


Family  No.  38,  Woman,  4  children,  17,  15,  13,  11 

Rent $10.00. .$120.00. .$125.00. .$566.54. .$  5.00. 


Food 22.93..  275.16..    280.76 5.60 

F.  &L 3.25..  39.00..     25.50 $13. 50.. Bal.    end 

Clo 8.00..  96.00..     47.98 48.02.  .of  12  mo. 

Sund 3.50..  42.00..     87.24 45.24 $.06 


$47.68. .$572. 16. .$566.48. .$566.54. .$55.84. .$61.52 


Family  No.  39,  Woman,  4  children,  7,  6,  5,  3 

.$156. 00.. $615. 82. 


Rent.  .. 

..$13.00. 

.$156.00. 

Food... 

..   21.35. 

.   256.20. 

F.&L.. 

. .     3.25. 

.     39.00. 

Clo 

..   10.00. 

.    120.00. 

Sund . . . 

..     3.40. 

.      40.80. 

314.76 $58.50 

30.31 $  8.09.  .Bal.    end 

63.29 56.71.  .of  12  mo. 

48.99 8.19 $2.47 


$51.00. .$012.00. .$613.35. .$615.82. .$66.75. .$65.40 

Family  No.  40,  Woman,  4  children,  13,  11,  8,  4 

Rent $13.00.  .$1.50.00.  .$1.56.00.  .$573.39 

Food 25.75..   309.00..   319.16 $10.16 


.$1.'')0 

.00 

.   309 

.00 

,      39 

.00 

.     48 

.00 

36. 

00. 

F.&L 3.25..      39.00..      16.81 $22. 19.. Bal.    end 

Clo 4.00..     48.00..     40.38 7.62..ofl2mo 

Sund 3.00..     36.00..     70.43 34.43 $29.38 


$49.00. .$588.00. .$002.78. .$573.39. .$44.59. .$29.81 


Expense  Accounts  of  the  Seventy-five  Families    39 

Est.  of  needs        Act.  Exp.  Act.  Inc.  Act.  over  Act.  under 
1  mo.        12  mo.        12  mo.        12  mo.       budget      budget      Summary 
Family  No.  41,  Woman,  4  children,  9,  7,  5,  3 

Rent $12.00. .$144.00. .$144.00. .$542.10 

Food 19.13..   229.56..   206.19 $23.36 

F.&L 3.25..     39.00..     35.12 3.88 

Clo 10.00..    120.00..     49.41 70.59..BaI.    end 

Sund 3.95..     47.40..      73.46 $26.06 of  12  mo. 

Nur.  fees  .      1,30..      15.60..      32.45 16.85 $1.47 


$49. 63.. $595. 56. .$540.63. .$542.10. .$42.91. .$97.83 

Family  No.  42,  Woman,  4  children,  16,  13,  9,  5 

Rent $1200.  .$144.00.  .$136.00.  .$685.78 $  8.00 

Food 29.48.  .   353.76.  .    349.96 3.80 

F.&L 3.25..     39.00..     45.54 $6.54 

Clo 10.00..   120.00..     65.49 54.51..Bal.    end 

Sund 3.73..     44.36..      56.85 12.09 of  12  mo. 

C.  F 2.40..      28.80..     29.68 88 $2.26 


$60.86. .$730.32. .$683.52. .$685.78. .$19.51. .$66.31 

Family  No.  43,  Woman,  4  children,  14,  12,  9,  5 

Rent $  7.50. .$  90.00. .$125.00. .$639.05. .$35.00 

339.10 $21.26 

20.18 18.82..Ba!.    end 

80.58 39.42.  .of  12  mo. 

63.90 38.90 $10.29 


Food 

,.  30.03.. 

.   360.36.. 

F.&L... 

,.     3.25.. 

,     39.00.. 

Clo 

,.   10.00.. 

.    120.00.. 

Sund 

,.     2.00.. 

24.00.. 

$52.78. .$633.36. .$628.76. .$639,05. .$74.90. .$79.50 

Family  No.  44,  Woman,  4  children,  12,  8,  5,  3 

Rent $11.00.  .$132.00.  .$126.50.  .$544.06 $  5.50 

270.73 $  5.41 

22.49 16.51..BaI.    end 

54.61 65. 39.. of  12  mo. 

67.02 24.78 $2.71 


Food. ... 

. .  22.11.. 

.   265.32 

F.  &  L. .  . 

, .     3.25.. 

.     39.00 

Clo 

, .   10.00., 

.   120.00 

Sund 

,.     3.52.. 

42.24 

$49,88. .$598.56. .$541.35. .$544.06. .$30.19. .$87.40 

Family  No.  45,  Woman,  4  children,  12,  9,  5,  2 

Rent $  5.00. .$  60.00. .$  80.00. .$557.55. .$20.00 


Food 

,.   22.11.. 

,   265,32 

F.&L... 

.     3.25.. 

39.00 

Clo 

, .    10.00., 

,    120,00 

Sund 

.      4 , 38 . . 

52.56 

291.37 26.05 

19.89 $19.11.  .Bal.    end 

75.72 44. 28.. of  12  mo. 

82,79 30.23 $7.78 


$44.74. .$549.78. .$549.78. .$557.55.  .  $76.28. .$63.39 


40  The  Minimum  Cost  of  Living 

Est.  of  needs        Act.  Exp.  Act.  Inc.  Act.  over  Act.  under 
1  mo.       12  mo.       12  mo.       12  mo.       budget      budget      Summary 

Family  No.  46,  Woman,  4  children,  16,  10,  8,  6 

Rent $13. 00.. $156. 00.  .$147.00.  .8751 .50 $  9.00 

Food 27.84..   334.08..   332.67 1.41 

F.  &L 3.25..     39.00..     31.26 7.74 

Clo 10.00..    120.00..     87.76 32.24..Bal.    end 

Sund 2.00..      24.00..      77.47 $53.47 of  12  mo. 

C.  F 2.60..     31.20..     53.20 22.00 $22.14 


$58.69. .$704.28. .$729.36. .$751.50. .$75.47. .$50.39 

Family  No.  47,  Woman,  4  children,  15,  13,  11,  6 

.$168.00.  .$.505.38 


Rent .  . . 

..$14.00. 

.$168.00 

Food. .. 

..    26.21. 

.   314.52 

F.  &  L. . 

. .      3.25. 

.      39.00 

Clo 

..    10.00. 

.    120.00 

Sund . . . 

..      2.00. 

.      24.00 

262.76 $51.76 

5.95 33.05..Bal.    end 

26.05 93.95.  .of  12  mo. 

25.20 $   1.20 $17.42 


$55.46. .$665.52. .$487.96. .$505.38. .$  1.20. $178. 76 

Family  No.  48,  Woman,  4  children,  12,  9,  7,  5 

Rent $11.00.  .$132.00.  .$122.00.  .$550.32 $10.00 

Food 22.95..   275.40..   282.49 $  7.09 

F.  &L 3.25..     39.00..     38.64 36..Bal.    end 

Clo 10.00..    120.00..      60.76 59.24.  .of  12  mo. 

Sund 2.00..      24.00..      45.55 21.55 $.88 


$49.20. .$590.40. .$549.44. .$550.32. .$28.64. .$09.60 

Family  No.  49,  Woman,  5  children,  15,  13,  9,  7,  5 

Rent $15.00.  .$180.00.  .$168.75.  .$716.51 $11.25 

Food 32.30..   387.60..   334.56 53.04 

F.  &L 3.25..     39.00..     43.46 $4.40 Bal.    end 

Clo 12.00. .   144.00.  .     73.63 70.37.  .of  12  mo. 

Sund 4.60..     55.20..     96.69 41.49 $.58 


$67.15. .$805.80. .$717.09. .$716.51. .$45.95. $134.66 

Family  No.  50,  Woman,  5  children,  18,  12,  9,  7,  4 

Rent $13.00. .$156.00. .$195.00. .$634.80. .$39.00 

Food 27.02..  324.24..  298.49 $25.75 

F.&L....  3.25..  39.00..  31.89 7.11. .Bal.  end 

Clo 6.00..      72.00..      99.28 27.28 of  12  mo. 

Sund 2.88..     .34. .56..     46.09 11.53 $35.95 


$52.15. .$625.80. .$670.75. .$634.80. .$77.81. .$32.86 


Expense  Accounts  of  the  Seventy-five  Families    41 

Est.  of  needs        Act.  Exp.  Act.  Inc.  Act.  over  Act.  under 
1  mo.       12  mo.       12  mo.       12  mo.       budget      budget     Summary 
Family  No.  51,  Woman,  5  children,  15,  14,  11,  6,  5 

Rent S10.50. .$126.00. .$136.00. .$691.03. .$10.00 

Food 31.12..   373.44..   376.01 2.57 

F.&L 3.25..      39.00..     35.35 $3.65..Bal.    end 

Clo 12.00..    144.00..     91.33 52.67.  .of  12  mo. 

Sund 2.00..     24.00..     52.03 28.03 $.31 


$58.87. .$706.44. .$690.72. .$691.03. .$40.60. .$56.32 

Family  No.  52,  Woman,  5  children,  19,  11,  10,  8,  5 

Rent $15.00.  .$165.00.  .$150.00.  .$832. 16 $15.00 

Food 26.50..   291.50..   285.94 5.56 

F.&L 3.25..     35.75..     35.05 70..Bal.    end 

Clo 12.00..    132.00..    137.73 $5.73 of  12  mo. 

Sund 6.00..     66.00..    143.49 77.49 $79.95 


$62. 75. .$690. 25.. $752. 21. .$832.16. .$83.22. .$21.26 

Family  No.  53,  Woman,  5  children,  11,  9,  7,  5,  4 

Rent $  9.50.  .$114.00.  .$  96.50.  .$482.50 $17.50. 


Food. .. 

..   22.11. 

.   265.33. 

.   278.27. 

$12.94. 

F.  &  L. . 

. .     3.25. 

.     39.00. 

.     22.27. 

.    16.73 

Clo 

..    10.00. 

.    120.00. 

.      70.03. 

.   49.97 

Sund... 

..     2.00. 

.      24.00. 

.      17.11. 

.      6.89 

$46.86. 

.$562.33. 

.$484.18. 

.$482. 50.. $12. 94. 

.$91.09 

.  Bal.  end 
.of  12  mo. 
.$1.68 


Family  No.  54,  Woman,  5  children,  7,  6,  5,  4,  2 

Rent $10.00. .$120.00. .$120.00. .$485.41 

Food 23.00. 

F.&L 3.25..     39.00..      18.10 $20. 90.. Bal.    end 

Clo 10.00..    120.00..     39.60 80.40.  .of  12  mo. 

Sund 3.00..     30.00..     23.73 12. 27.. $5. 90 


$49.25. 


276.00. 

.   278.08. 

.$  2. 

.08. 

,      39.00. 

.      18.10. 

.$20.90. 

,    120.00. 

.     39.60. 

.   80.40. 

30.00. 

.     23.73. 

.    12.27. 

$591.00. 

.$479.51. 

.$485.41. 

.$  2.08. 

$113.57 

Family  No.  55,  Woman,  5  children,  13,  11,  7,  4,  20  months 

Rent $14.00. .$168.00. .$168.00. .$727.87 

Food 28.84..   346.08..   337.90 $  8.18 

F.&L....     3.25..     39.00..     40.97 $1.97 

Clo 10.00..    120.00..     70.43 49, 57.. Bal.    end 

Sund 4.40..     52.80. .    106.92 54.12 of  12  mo. 

C.  F 2.70 2.70 $.95 


$60. 49.. $725. 88.. $726. 92.. $727. 87.. $58. 79.. $57. 75 


42  The  Minimum  Cost  of  Living 

Est.  of  needs        Act.  Exp.  Act.  Inc.   Act.  over  Act.  under 
1  mo.        12  mo.       12  mo.       12  mo.       budget      budget     Summary 
Family  No.  56,  Woman,  5  children,  17,  15,  11,  9,  7 

Rent $15.00.  .$180.00.  .$174.50.  .$897.56 $  5.50 

Food 38.50..    502.00..    370.01 131.99 

F.  &L 3.25..      39.00..      54.62 $15.62 

Clo 12.00..    144.00..    109.14 34.86 

Sund 2.44..     29.28..    123.23 93.95 Bal.    end 

C.  F 2.60..     31.20..     58.50 27.30 of  12  mo. 

Debtpd 3.31 3.31 $4.25 


$73. 79.. $925. 43.. $893. 31.. $897. 46. $140. 18. $172. 35 

Family  No.  57,  Woman,  5  children,  13,  12,  9,  7,  5 

Rent $18.00. .$216.00. .$216.00. .$863.57 

Food 31.12..   373.44..   369.96 $3.48 

F.  &L 3.25..     39.00..     50.87 $11.87 Bal.    end 

Clo 12.00..   144.00..     62.35 81.65.  .of  12  mo. 

Sund 4.40..  52.80..  73.31 20.51 $91.08 


$68.77. .$825.24. .$772.49. .$863.57. .$32.38. .$85.13 

Family  No.  58,  Woman,  5  children,  17,  15,  13,  7,  4 

Rent $13.00. .$156.00. .$156.00. .$845.97 

411.73 $  8.77 


Food 

.   33.58.. 

,   402.96.. 

F.&L... 

.      3.25.. 

,     39.00.. 

Clo 

.    10.00.. 

120.00.. 

Sund 

.     3.91.. 

46.92.. 

C.  F 

.     2.40.. 

28.80.. 

29.23 $  9.77 

96.64 23. 36.. Bal.    end 

51.57 4.65 of  12  mo. 

82.60 53.80 $18.20 


$66.14. .$793.68. .$827.77. .$845.97. .$67.22. .$33.13 

Family  No.  59,  Woman,  5  children,  10,  7,  4,  3,  18  months 

Rent $14. 00.. $168. 00.. $176. 00.. $692. 84..$  8.00 

Food 25.27..   303.24..   316.49 13.25 

F.&L 3.25..     39.00..     53.20 14.20 Bal.    end 

Clo 12.00..   144.00..     76.84 $67.16.  .of  12  mo. 

Sund 3.52..     42.24..      69.24 27.00 $1.07 


$58.04. .$696. 48.. $691. 77. .$692.84. .$62.45. .$67.16 

Family  No.  60,  Woman,  5  children,  11,  10,  8,  5,  4 

Rent $11. 50.. $138. 00.. $138. 00. .$685.81 

Food 30.94..   371.28..   347.42 $23.86 

F.&L....     3.25..     39.00..     47.55 $8.55 Bal.    end 

Clo 12,00..   144.00..    124.05 19.95.  .of  12  mo. 

Sund 2.00..      24.00..      29.32 5.32 $.53 


$59.69. .$716.28. .$686.34. .$685.81. .$13.87. .$43.81 


Expense  Accounts  of  the  Seventy-five  Families    43 

Est.  of  needs        Act.  Exp.    Act.  Inc.  Act.  over  Act.  under 
1  mo.        12  mo.        12  mo.        12  mo.       budget      budget      Summary 
Family  No.  61,  Woman,  5  children,  13,  11,  9,  8,  5 

Rent S16.00.  .$192.00.  .$176.00.  .$767.62 $16.00 

383.90 $  8.78 

36.68 2.32 

74.06 69.94..Bal.    end 

86.03 38.63 of  12  mo. 

8.75 53. 65.. $2. 20 


Food 

.  31.26.. 

375.12. 

F.  &L... 

, .  3.25.. 

.  39.00. 

CIo 

, .  12.00.. 

,  144.00. 

Sund 

..  3.95.. 

,  47.40. 

C.  F 

.  5.20.. 

62.40. 

$71.66. .$859.92. .$765.42. .$767.62. .$47. 41. $141. 91 

Family  No.  62,  Woman,  5  children,  13,  11,  8,  4,  2 

Rent $15.00. .$180.00. .$180.00. .$764.43 


Food 

.  30.00.. 

360.00. 

F.  &  L. .  . 

.  3.25. 

.   39.00. 

Clo 

. .  14.00., 

.  168.00. 

Sund 

.   5.03.. 

60.36. 

380.39 $20.39 

35.00 $  4.00..Bal.    end 

129.79 38.21.  .of  12  mo. 

38.70 21.66.  .$.55 


$67.28. .$807.36. .$763.88. .$764.43. .$20.39. .$63.87 

Family  No.  63,  Woman,  5  children,  11,  10,  8,  7,  4 

Rent $11.00. .$132.00. .$132.00. .$681.98 

Food 30.94..   371.28..    360.24 $11.04 

F.  &L 3.25..      39.00..      19.43 19.57..Bal.     end 

Clo 10.00..   120.00..     76,19 43,81.  .of  12  mo. 

Sund 4.40..      52.30..      89.72 $37.42 $4.40 


$59.59. .$714.58. .$677.58. .$681.98. .$37.42. .$74.42 

Family  No.  64,  Woman,  6  children,  13,  11,  10,  7,  5,  8  mo. 

Rent $13.00.  .$156.00.  .$169.00.  .$767.98.  .  $13.00 

Food 30.67..   368.04..   390.29 22.25 

F.  &L 3.25..      39.00..     40.20 1.20 Bal.    end 

Clo 10.00..    120,00..    109,04 $10.96.  .of  12  mo. 

Sund 3.08..     36.96..      55,69 18.73 $3.76 


$60.00. .$720.00. .$764.22. .$767.98. .$55.18. .$10.96 

Family  No.  65,  Woman,  6  children,  14,  13,  10,  9,  7,  6 

Rent $14. 00.. $168. 00. .$168,00. .$851.76 

Food 37.67..   442,04..   431.13 $10,91 

F.&L 3.25..      39.00..      44.03 $5,03 Bal.    end 

Clo 14,00..    168.00..    124.76 43.24.  , of  12  mo. 

Sund 7.70..     92,40..      72.77 19.63.  .$11.07 


$76.62. .$909. 44.. $840. 69. .$851.76..$  5.03. .$73.78 


44 


The  Minimum  Cost  of  Living 


Est.  of  needs 
1  mo.        12  mo. 


Act.  Exv.  Act.  Inc. 
12  mo.        12  mo. 


Act.  over  Act.  under 
budget       budget      Summary 


Family  No.  66,  Woman,  6  children,  16,  14,  12,  10,  8,  5 


Rent. 
Food. 
F.  &L 
CIo... 
Sund. 
C.  F.. 


S12.00. 
38 . 95 . 

3.25. 
12.00. 

5.18. 

5.20. 


$144.00. 
.  467.40. 
.  39.00. 
.  144.00. 
.  62.16. 
.      62.40. 


$125.00.  .$913.15 $19.00 

.   521.88 $54.48 

.      17.19 21.81 

.     83.96 60.04..Bal.    end 

.     84.91 22.75 of  12  mo. 

.  74.15 11.75 $6.06 


$76.58. .$918.96. .$907.09. .$913. 15. .$88. 23. $100. 85 


Family  No.  67,  Woman,  6  children,  19,  18,  15,  14,  9,  6 

Rent $18.00.  .$216.00.  .$243.00  $1,172.50.  .$27.00 

Food 40.13..  481.56..   561.74 80.18 

F.&L 3.25..     39.00..     63.82 24.82 

Clo 12.00..   144.00..     91.67 $52.33..BaI.    end 

Sund 2.00..     24.00..    173.67 149.67 of  12  mo. 


C.  F 30.80. 


30.80 $7.80 


$75.38.  .$904.56$1,164.70$1,172.50.$312.47.  .$52.33 

Family  No.  68,  Woman,  6  children,  16,  13,  11,  8,  6,  2 

Rent $15. 00.. $180. 00..$  81 .00.  .$417.25 $99.00. 


Food 28.67..  344.04.. 

F.&L 3.25..  39.00. 

Clo 10.00..  120.00. 

Sund 2.00..  24.00., 


178.33 165.71 

15.73 23.27.  .Bal.    end 

80.33 39.67.  .of  12  mo. 

51.27 $27.27 $10.59 


$58.92. .$707.04. .$406.66. .$417.25. .$27.27.8327.65 


Family  No.  69,  Woman,  6  children,  15,  13,  9,  7,  6,  4 

Rent $15.00.  .$180.00.  .$175.00.  .$790.31 $  5.00. 

Food 28.67..   344.04. 

F.&L 3.25..     39.00. 

Clo 12.00..   144.00. 

Sund 4.60..     55.20. 


388.61 $44. .J7 

42.72 3.72 Bal.    end 

36.80 107.20.  .of  12  mo. 

89 .  78 34 .  58 $29 .  33 


$63.52. .$762.24. .$732.91. .$790.31. .$82. 87. $112. 20 


Family  No.  70,  Woman,  7  children,  15,  14,  12,  11,  10,  6,  5 
Rent ,S12.50.  .$150.00.  .$153.00.  .$765.88.  .$  3.00.  . 


Food 37.67.. 

F.&L....  3.25.. 

Clo 14.00.. 

Sund 62.65.  . 


452.04. 

39.00. 
168.00. 

91.80. 


362.99 $89.05 

57.14 18.14 Bal.    end 

61.27 106.73.  .of  12  mo. 

99.22 7.42 $.32.26 


$70.07. .$900.84. .$733.62. .$765. 


.$28.56.195.78 


Expense  Accounts  of  the  Seventy-five  Families    45 

Est.  of  needs        Act.  Exp.  Act.  Inc.  Act.  over  Act.  under 
1  mo.       IZ  mo.       12  mo.       12  mo.       budget      budget     Summary 
Family  No.  71,  Woman,  7  children,  17,  15,  13,  11,  9,  7,  3 

Rent $20. 00.. $240. 00.  .$203. 00  $1,139. 32 $37.00 

520.88 29.44 

42.44 $  3.44 

163.43 28.57..Bal.    end 

109.66 75.58 of  12  mo. 

94.39 92. 81.. $5. 52 


Food 

, .  45.86.. 

.   550.32. 

F.  &L... 

.     3.25., 

.     39.00. 

Clo 

. .   16.00., 

.   192.00. 

Sund.... 

.      2,84.. 

34.08. 

C.  F 

.    15.60.. 

187.20. 

$103. 55  $1,242. 60  $1,133. 80  $1,139. 32.. $79. 02. $187. 82 

Family  No.  72,  Woman,  7  children,  16,  14,  11,  9,  7,  4,  2 

Rent $14.00. .$168,00. .$168.00. .$852.17 

Food 40.95..   491.40..   410,35 $81.05 

F.  &L 3.25..     39.00..     30.00 9,00 

Clo 12.00..   144,00,.    115,87 28,13,.Bal.    end 

Sund 4.38..     52,56..     63.98 $11.42 of  12  mo. 

C.  F 5.20..     62,40..      53.55 8. 85,, $10, 42 


$79.78. .$957.36. .$841.75. .$852.17. .$11. 42, $127, 03 

Family  No.  73,  Woman,  7  children,  15,  14,  12,  10,  9,  7,  4 

Rent $15,00,  .$180,00,  .$132,00,  ,$898,68 $48,00 

Food 36,04,.   432,48..   449,81 $17.33 

F.  &L 3,25..     39,00..     65,61 26,61 

Clo 14,00..    168,00..      64,93 103,07..Bal    end. 

Sund 3.64..     43.68..    174,42 130,74 of  12  mo. 

C.  F 2.60..     31,20..        9.60 21,60.  .$2.31 


$74,53. .$894.36. .$896,37. .$898. 68. $174. 68, $172. 67 

Family  No.  74,  Woman,  7  children,  18,  16,  14,  12,  8,  7,  5 

Rent $17,00.  .$204,00,  ,$198.00  $1,145.41 $  6,00 

626.67 $66.51 

40.13 1.13 Bal.    end 

111.68 80.32.  , of  12  mo. 

170.86 110,86 $1.93 


Food 

..  46.68.. 

560,16. 

F.&L... 

.      3.25. 

.     39.00. 

Clo 

, .    16.00,. 

.    192,00. 

Sund 

.     5,00,. 

60.00. 

$87.93  $1,055. 16  $1,147. 34  $1.145. 41, $178, 50., $86, 32 

Family  No.  75,  Woman,  8  children,  17,  15,  13,  10,  9,  8,  7,  5 

Rent $15.50,  .$186.00.  .$161,00.  .$930,00 $25,00 

Food 49,14,.    589,68..    502,55 87.13 

F.&L 3,25,.     39,00..     31,96 7. 04.. Bal.    end 

Clo 18.00..    216.00..      91.77 124.23.  .of  12  mo. 

Sund 5.54..      66.48.,    135.36 $68,88 $7,36 


$91. 43  $1,097. 16.. $922. 64. .$930.00. .$68. 88. $243. 40 


PART  III 
WHAT  THE  STUDY  REVEALED 


CHAPTER  I 

Conditions  Previous  to  Steady  Income 

The  families  have  been  known  to  the  Associa- 
tion for  varying  periods  before  the  death  of  the 
breadwinner.  In  all  cases  the  income  had  been 
irregular  or  insufficient  or  both  for  a  considerable 
time.  The  health  of  various  members  had  suf- 
fered accordingly. 

Before  the  granting  of  the  regular  income  there 
was  careful  instruction  in  each  family  for  at  least 
six  months.  During  this  time  members  of  the 
Home  Economics'  staff  gave  lessons  in  planning, 
buying  and  feeding,  so  that  the  housekeeper  might 
be  prepared  to  use  her  income  to  the  best  advan- 
tage. 

During  the  time  when  the  various  families  were 
being  supported  by  the  mothers'  earnings,  by 
church  and  other  societies,  the  income  was  in- 
determinate in  fifty-nine  of  the  families.  In  the 
other  sixteen  it  was  possible  to  approximate  the 
income.  Of  this  number,  according  to  the  estimate 
on  which  this  study  is  based,  there  was  a  deficit 

49 


50 


The  Minimum  Cost  of  Living 


in  all  cases,  the  highest  being  $34.00  per  month, 
the  lowest  $1.00,  and  the  average  $14.00  monthly. 
It  is  safe  to  say  that  not  one  of  the  seventy-five 
famihes  had  escaped  some  degree  of  ill  health 
because  of  insufficient  income. 

After  the  allowances  were  granted  the  families 
were  grouped  according  to  income  as  follows: 


Income 

Number  of  Families 

Between  200  and  300 

1 

"       300    "    400 

2 

"       400    "    500 

8 

"       500    "    600 

22 

"       600    "    700 

18 

"       700    "    800 

12 

"       800    "    900 

7 

"       900    "  1000 

2 

"     1100    "  1200 

3 

75 


At  the  end  of  the  first  year  of  steady  income  six 
of  the  seventy-five  showed  a  deficit,  the  average 
deficit  for  the  twelve  months  being  $27.99.  The 
remaining  sixty-nine  showed  a  surplus,  the  average 
being  $9.72. 

The  following  table  shows  the  number  of  families 
who  spent  more  than  the  estimate,  and  the  average 
amount  of  this  expenditure,  also  the  number  of 


Conditions  Previous  to  Steady  Income        51 

families  who  spent  less  than  the  estimate  of  the 
average  sum  in  each  case: 

Itemized  Analysis  of  the  Above 

No.  Families       Average      No.  Families      Average 
Item  Above  Sum  Below  Sum 

Rent 18 $14.97 31 $18.02 

Food 38 29.80 37 29.30 

Fuel  and  Light.  .  .24 8.12 51 11.30 

Clothing 5 15.43 70 54.55 

Insurance* 29 12.43 32 4.92 

Sundries 64 28.35 11 10.94 

Carfare 8 28.37 6 35.30 

One  important  part  of  the  plan  was  the  supervi- 
sion of  health  conditions  by  the  Association's 
nurses.  Before  the  granting  of  the  cash  allowance 
a  record  was  made  of  the  health  of  each  member  of 
all  the  families  after  a  careful  medical  examina- 
tion. The  nurses'  records  show  the  progress  from 
month  to  month,  and  the  following  is  a  verbatim 
report  of  conditions  in  each  family  at  the  end  of 
the  year: 

HEALTH  CONDITIONS  AFTER  A  YEAR  OF  STEADY 
INCOME 

Family  Health  After  Year  of  Teaching  and  Steady  Income 

FamUy  No.    1 . .  Family  well. 

"        "      2.  .Conditions  satisfactory. 

*  Budgets  include  insurance  under  Sundries. 


52  The  Minimum  Cost  of  Living 

Family  Health  After  Year  of  Teaching  and  Steady  Income 

Family  No.    3.  .Children  improved  in  health. 

"      4 ..  Health  of  family  improved. 

"       5.  .Family  all  well. 

"      6 ..  Plan  a  success.    Conditions  excellent. 

"  7 ..  Children  improved.  Medical  care  given.  Satis- 
factory results. 

"      8.  .Conditions  satisfactory. 

"      9..  Health  good. 

"     10.  .Family  all  in  better  health. 

"     11.  .Marked  difference  in  health. 

"     12.  .Health  improved.    Steady  advance  at  all  points. 

"     13 .  .  Health  of  family  good. 

"     14.  .Family  all  in  better  health. 

"  15.  .Children  show  good  effects  from  care  from 
mother. 

"     16..  Good  results. 

"     17 .  .  Improved  in  all  ways. 

"     18.  .General  health  of  family  good. 

"     19.  .Excellent  health. 

"  20.  .Woman  and  children  all  show  marked  improve- 
ment. 

"    21 .  .  Entire  family  well. 

"  22.  .Woman  delicate  but  improved  in  health.  Chil- 
dren well. 

"  23 ..  Conditions  much  improved.  Health  of  famUy 
good. 

"    24.  .Health  of  all  the  family  improved. 

"  25.. Children  show  good  effects  of  home  care  of 
mother.    Health  improved. 

"    26.  .Children  well.    Woman  much  improved. 

"  27.  .Living  conditions  greatly  improved.  Woman 
under  medical  care. 

"    28.  .Health  conditions  satisfactory. 

"     29 .  .  Health  of  family  good. 

"    30 ..  Health  much  improved. 

"    31..  Health  good. 


Conditions  Previous  to  Steady  Income        53 

Family         Health  After  Year  of  Teaching  and  Steady  Income 
Family  No.  32.  .All  the  family  well. 

"         "    33.  .AH  the  family  show  marked  improvement  in 

health  since  steady  income. 
"        "    34 . .  Woman  not  strong  but  great  improvement  noted 

in  all  members  of  the  family. 
"        "    35 ..  Slow  but  steady  improvement. 

"    36..Family  all  well. 
"        "    37 . .  Health  decidedly  improved. 
"         "    38 ..  Great  improvement  in  health. 
"         "39.  .Family  better  but  still  shows  the  effect  of  long 

continued  under-nourishment. 
"         "    40 ..  Family  greatly  improved  since  granting  of  steady 

income. 
"        "     41 .  .Great  improvement  in  health  of  all  the  family. 
"         "    42..  Health  of  family  good. 
"         "    43 ..  Slow  but  steady  improvement. 
"         "    44.  .Health  of  family  good. 
"         "    45.  .Health  decidedly  improved. 
"         "    46.  .Woman's  health  improving  rapidly  after  steady 

income  came. 
"         "    47 ..  Steady  improvement  in  every  possible  way . 
"        "    48.. Much  better  health. 
"         "    49..  Family  weU. 
"        "    50.  .Health  improved  but  still  below. 
"         "    51 .  .  General  health  of  all  the  family  good. 
"         "    52.  .Woman  and  children  all  well. 
"         "    53.  .Family  in  good  health. 
"         "    54..  Entire  family  well. 
"        "    55.  .Health  of  entire  family  improved  since  steady 

income  began. 

"        "    56 ..  Remarkable  gain  in  health  of  all  members  of  the 

family. 
"         "    57.  .Family  improved  rapidly. 
"         "    58.  .Remarkable  improvement. 
"         "    59.  .Steady  improvement. 
"        "    60 . .  Good  improvement  in  all  the  family. 


54 


The  Minimum  Cost  of  Living 


Family         Health  After  Year  of  Teaching  and  Steady  Income 

Family  No.  61.  .Woman  gaining  strength  and  courage. 

"         "  62.  .Vast  improvement  in  all  directions. 

"         "  63 ..  Steadily  improving. 

"         "  64 ..  Steady  improvement.    Children  very  well. 

"         "  65.  .AH  conditions  improving  rapidly. 

"        "  66 ..  Children  show  splendid  improvement. 

"        "  67 ..  All  improved. 

"         "  68.  .Entire  family  well. 

"        "  69.  .Family  all  improved. 

"  70.  .All  well. 

"        "  71.  .Slow  but  steady  improvement. 

"  72..  Excellent  health. 

"        "  73 ..  Family  all  well. 

"        "  74.  .Conditions  improved. 

"        "  75.  .Steady  improvement. 

The  most  cursory  examination  of  the  above 
records  leads  inevitably  to  the  conclusion  that 
even  a  minimum  sum  carefully  administered,  will 
do  much  for  families  who  have  been  living  on  a 
' '  hand-to-mouth ' '  basis. 

We  may  sum  up  as  follows :  A  carefully  planned 
minimum  standard  can  lay  the  foundation  of 
good  health  for  all  members  of  the  family.  Such 
a  sum  can  restore  shattered  nerves  and  renew 
courage  for  a  mother  who  has  been  harassed  by 
irregular  and  uncertain  payments  of  an  income 
inadequate  at  the  best.  Such  an  assured  minimum 
can  change  pale  and  listless  children  into  rosy- 
cheeked  romping  boys  and  girls. 


Conditions  Previous  to  Steady  Income        55 

It  is  worth  while  to  consider  now  just  what  prac- 
tical application  can  be  made  of  the  facts  noted 
above.  The  present  study  is  not  concerned  pri- 
marily with  the  sources  of  the  family  income.  This 
income  may  be  received  in  the  form  of  a  pension 
from  private  or  State  funds,  from  the  earnings  of 
the  children,  or  from  the  combined  earnings  of 
all  the  members  of  the  family.  One  object  has 
been  to  help  in  fixing  an  adequate  standard  of 
living  for  families  in  corresponding  income  groups. 

In  the  succeeding  pages  when  the  items  of  the 
estimate  are  discussed  in  detail  there  will  be  sug- 
gestions for  improvement  in  this  estimate.  These 
suggestions  may  lead  it  is  hoped  to  the  considera- 
tion of  the  next  step  in  this  campaign  of  home 
preservation.  This  next  step  will  be  to  discuss 
just  how  much  must  be  added  to  the  estimate  of 
living  needs  so  that  the  family  income  may  pro- 
vide a  comfortable  balance. 


CHAPTER  II 
Housing  Conditions 

The  sum  paid  for  rent  was  largely  a  concession 
to  circumstances.  It  will  be  worth  while  to  as- 
certain, first,  the  percentage  spent  for  rent  by 
each  family  according  to  income;  second,  the 
number  of  rooms  needed  to  keep  the  family  in 
health  and  comfort;  third,  the  maximum  of  con- 
venience procurable  by  families  in  this  income 
group;  and  finally,  the  fluctuations  of  rent  ac- 
cording to  the  number  of  rooms. 

Of  the  seventy-five  families,  one  with  an  income 
of  $200-$300,  paid  its  rent  by  janitor  service; 
famihes  in  the  S300-$400  group  paid  28%  of  theu- 
income  for  rent;  those  in  the  $400-$500,  a  per- 
centage of  17-25;  in  the  $500-1600,  a  percentage 
of  16-33;  in  the  $600-$700,  a  percentage  of  18-38; 
in  the  $700-$800,  a  percentage  of  18-34;  in  the 
$800-1900,  a  percentage  of  16-33;  in  the  $900- 
$1,000,  a  percentage  of  13-17;  and  in  the  $1,000 
to  $1,100  group,  a  percentage  of   17-18  of  the 

income. 

56 


Housing  Conditions  57 

NUMBER   OP   ROOMS   NEEDED 

Perhaps  the  best  way  to  discuss  this  question 
is  to  give  a  report  of  the  number  of  rooms  the 
famines  actually  had.  It  has  already  been  stated 
that  the  housing  conditions  were  somewhat  of  a 
compromise,  and  the  workers  were  agreed  that, 
while  the  famihes  were  comfortable  in  these 
quarters,  and  while  the  rent  paid  was  all  that  they 
could  afford,  ideally,  50%  of  the  famihes  should 
have  had  at  least  one  room  additional. 

When  considered  according  to  the  number  of 
rooms  needed,  the  famihes  fall  into  the  following 
groups : 

Group  1 — three  famihes  of  three  individuals 
each,  one  of  these  having  three  rooms,  the  other 
two  famihes  having  four  rooms. 

Group  2 — twenty-six  families  of  four  individ- 
uals, one  having  two  rooms,  twelve  having  three 
rooms,  twelve  having  four  rooms,  and  one  having 
five  rooms. 

Group  3 — nineteen  famihes  of  five  individuals 
each,  seven  having  three  rooms,  ten  having  four 
rooms,  and  two  having  five  rooms. 

Group  4 — fifteen    famihes    of    six    individuals 


58  The  Minimum  Cost  of  Living 

each,  five  having  three  rooms,  eight  having  four 
rooms,  and  two  having  five  rooms. 

Group  5 — six  famiUes  of  seven  individuals  each, 
three  having  three  rooms,  two  having  four  rooms, 
and  one  having  five  rooms. 

Group  6 — five  famihes  of  eight  individuals  each, 
four  having  four  rooms,  and  one  having  five  rooms. 

Group  7 — one  family  of  nine  individuals  having 
four  rooms. 

CONVENIENCES 

Of  the  seventy-five  families,  thirteen  had  private 
bathrooms,  forty-four  private  toilets,  thirty  had 
joint  use  of  toilets  in  the  hall,  and  one,  a  toilet  in 
the  yard. 

RENT   ACCORDING   TO   NUMBER   OF   ROOMS 

When  considered  according  to  the  amount  of 
space  furnished  for  a  given  sum,  the  apartments 
may  be  grouped  as  follows: 

Group  1 — two  apartments  of  two  rooms,  rent 
for  each  $10.00. 

Group  2 — twenty-nine  apartments  of  three 
rooms;  two  having  rent  paid  by  janitor  service, 
one  renting  at  $7.50  per  month,  two  at  $8.00, 


Housing  Conditions  59 

one  at  $9.50,  five  at  $10.00,  four  at  $11.00,  two 
at  $12.00,  eight  at  $13.00,  two  at  $14.00,  one  at 
$15.00,  and  one  at  $19.00. 

Group  3 — forty  apartments  of  four  rooms;  three 
of  these  having  rent  paid  by  janitor  service,  one 
at  $10.50  per  month,  two  at  $11.00,  three  at  $11.50, 
three  at  $12.00,  seven  at  $13.00,  one  at  $13.50, 
six  at  $14.00,  three  at  $15.00,  one  at  $15.50,  two 
at  $16.00,  two  at  $17.00,  two  at  $18.00,  two 
at  $20.00,  and  two  at  $21.00. 

Group  4 — six  apartments  of  five  rooms;  one 
having  rent  paid  by  janitor  service,  one  at  $12.00 
per  month,  one  at  $12.50,  one  at  $14.00,  one  at 
$15.00,  and  one  at  $16.00  per  month. 

Examination  of  the  expense  accounts  shows  that 
none  of  the  famiUes  can  afford  for  rent  a  sum 
sufficient  to  insure  really  satisfactory  housing. 
Indeed,  one  might  say  that  existence  in  a  typical 
tenement  house  is  never  wholly  satisfactory  from 
the  point  of  view  of  sanitation,  privacy  and  enjoy- 
ment. That  om*  families  live  in  them  such  well- 
ordered  fives,  is  a  tribute  to  the  resourcefulness 
and  pluck  of  the  housekeeper,  as  well  as  to  the 
general  cheerfulness  of  spirit  prevailing  among 
the  various  members  of  the  family  group. 


CHAPTER  III 

The  Seventy-five  Dietaries  Considered  in  Detail 

In  fixing  the  ration  allowance,  the  families  are 
grouped  according  to  size.  It  has  already  been 
stated  that  the  ration  allowance  is  planned  so  that 
groups  of  families  may  use  it  as  a  guide. 

In  the  first  group  we  have  families  numbers  1 
to  29,  inclusive,  in  the  second  group,  families 
numbers  30  to  48,  inclusive,  in  the  third  group, 
families  numbers  49  to  69,  inclusive,  in  the  fifth 
group,  families  numbers  70  to  74,  inclusive,  and 
family  number  75,  forms  the  sixth  group. 


60 


The  Seventy-jive  Dietaries  in  Detail 


61 


O    Ol    t^    o 


1?    '^ 


00     IN      CO     N 


lO     05     O      ■»*<     N-     o 
M     (M     03     tH  rt 


"^     Xi     - 


COOOOitOCOON 
COrfi'-iiOO'^O'!!' 


OOM'^'Oi-llNooO 
>7C0'0'-'C0O<Nt>.C<3 
"^     CO  «5     N     ■*     N  M 


in    £    : 


■*        l-H        rt 


O     O     <N     O 


COOiOOS'-iOOOOOO 


S3   £ 


oo>-iooo>NM<-*oo 

OC<300t^'<J<'^(N'-' 
CO  t^     CO     -^     IN     "-l     CO 


O     t--     O     O     O 


CO     O     O     CO     CD     t^ 


ffi     ^     -< 
Jg      t^      CO 

«0        rt        T}< 


"    £ 


^  s 


rt     CO     CD     IN     O     O     N 
■*i»0(NU3t~t^'-llN 


•-I     c 


C5       "J*      M      CO 


IN     0>     IN     (N     lO     lO     ^ 
(N     IN     t^     --I     >-l     Tl< 


•=<     £     = 


''5'*OOaiOcOOO''5 
COiOtNiOCOOOO 
«3  t^     IN     IN     IN     i-H     Tf( 


o    ^^    o 


h  -^ 


CU    >7      rt 
Cej    1^      CO 


05      -H 


"J*     00     •"^     -^ 


t^  CO      CO      03      "H      rt      CO 


OiNi-HOOOOOrooOOJ 
■      --         ■     CO     IN     O     t-     OO 


CO    CO    ro    CO 


r^        rH        C5        F-l        1-1        lO 


OO  CD  IN  00  r-.  Tt< 
t~  00  IN  CO  t>-  -^ 
O     (N     t^     "-I  CO 


•3     .    -    -       o-  ii    -      -      -     - 

rf^JrCOOOOiOOCDlNO 


C000005<3I1«D050» 
'-it>.COcOO'OCOi-' 
■*  t^      .-I      O      i-H      rH      lO 


&  ^ 


ffl    PQ    S 


t^    O    cc    (1, 


^^        -J      u^      taj        t-1        QJ        '^l        O 


62 


The  Minimum  Cost  of  Living 


00     rt     00     o     o 


W       r1 


IN   £   -      -g. 
o    S    S   ?2 


12;   o 


rti    00    g 

in     o     •"< 


O     00     "O     to 


t,     CO     :^     (N     r-i     IN 


o* 

— 

" 

(N 

O 

lO 

CO 

O-  =5 

00   ^ 

00 
CO 

IN 

lO 

00 

O     IM      O      ■-! 


in     £ 


050iO'*CO(NiOOO 


z  s 


,)(      rjl      •-I      «D      CO      to      3 

^    o    N    00    .-t    to    o; 

CO     --I     00     <N  <N 


^    £ 


SIN     -^     ■*     o     00 
t^     CO     O     IN     <^ 
lO     IN     IN     IN  IN 


T-H         -^         05 

CO     o> 


O     t--     "O     '*< 

TJI         CO         CO         '^ 


10    CO    o    c^ 


•-!    £ 


cccooot^toc^jt^oo 

OCOCO'-iCOOOO 
1^  O     CO     CO     i-H     rt     CM 


t--  O  CO  O  CO  CM 


CO   CO   CO   CO   CO   CO 


o  CO  J>-  i-H  i-i  CO 


00  CM 


IS  '^ 


CM  CO  CO   CO 


r-  CO  03  lO 


lO  CO  05  CM  t-i  CO 


CM^OCOOOCOCO 

tzicoOcoiOTjit^co 

CO  CO     CM     00     CO  CO 


>}  ^  ~ 


fa  15  s 


CM     CO 


<N     CO     O     O 


00    CO    -^    CO 


3  S 


^ 

CO 
CM 

J 

: 

O' 

1 

: 

'a 

6 

t^ 

lO 

■* 

CO 

2J 

a 

CO 

CO 

I^ 

lO 

CM 

(^ 

i^ 

l:^ 

CM 

05 

I— t 

ZS     - 

O" 

±i 

- 

- 

- 

- 

CO  00 

—1  t^ 

o 
CO 

CO 

o 

CO 

o 

OS 

•-1      OJ      i-H      ^      lO 


i-l       0>       t-l       1-4       >0 


C3      *^     ^       CS     '2       O       OS,      rt 

eQpq<5,^faOas&< 


The  Seventy-five  Dietaries  in  Detail  63 


o  S  r?  fg  o  r-  ^- 


15    J3    "^    12    « 


^  c^  CM  ;::)  N 


■*     —     -        O"    — 
o    m;    -H    CTi    o 


o<   ^ 


lO     O     M     5^     00 

^   J-   00   S   K 

■*      O      (N      rH      lj5 


rH      «0      1-1 


CO      £ 


S    S    P    S?    w    -o 


12;    S    -»    S    t:    S 


t^j      -^      Cvl      lO 


OoOOiOOMOtD 


C.5  £  : 


^-« 

a 

=; 

05 

o 

CO 
CO 

■o 

g 

CD    T}<    t>    I-H 


^  s  s  S  - 


e^  o  o  00  CD 
CO  rf  OS  iH 


2  <M  SS  "^  -h'  o 
r?  o  fo  tD  00  CO 

""  CO  *"  rH      •<j< 


g  s 


■-H   CO   T)<   t^   CJ   t^   t^ 

—  (N.  ■*  ■-(  lo  o  oa 

t^   (N   OS   l-H   (H   •-< 


fe  2; 


c  £  "  "  :  : 

O  CO  ^-  CD  (M  CO 

r"  00  r;  CO  uo  -^ 

t^  2  '^  '-'  w 


rS"!?  :2  = 


CM   CO 


,ca  1^  g  CO  _ 

fn  <<  g     irj  CO 


00  op  CO  iS  00  CM  T(< 

t^  CM   O   JS  ■=>  00   CM 

t^  CI  O^  CM  rt  CO 


O  M  Ph 


00  >0  00  CM 

o  CO  o  5o 

C^   Ol   CM   S 


b  -5 


.  «  -■ 


s  s  £ 


O  m  fw 


64 


The  Minimum  Cost  of  Living 


»     lO     N     (M 


(^  t^  «0  T-H  •* 
M  "O  ^  O  lO 
CO     O     <N     i-c     W 


©•"jicoiooooTfifl 


»     CO     M     M 


00005000000 

t^'^ocointooi-^ 

t^      to  CO  O  CO      •* 


OJ  00 


^  00  'H  CO 


CO   O  t~   rt   i-H   CO 


•OOC-lOlCONCO 

o    f^  00  —I  00    t^ 


o  2 


05   OS   CO   (^   -"J"   t» 

CO  5J  00  >H  «  (o 
<0  to  ;o  CO  f-i  N 


COOO(NCOCOO-<j<00 
tONOtD'*'*'-!'^ 


2;  i^ 


t^    CO    >o    N    "-i    N 


in    rS    - 


00  -rt^  00  CO  r^  Tj< 
O  lO  O  lO  CO  »o 
C^^  rt      lO      0>      i-H 


cococ^c^i^cocor^ 

Oo"^''2O00'-iC0 
O  00     CO     50     CO     --i     <N 


"^  2 


O     in     CO     i-l 


CO     IM 


rr;  Tti    -P    - 


f::;:^  :^ 


00     (N      ■^      IC     O     y 
T»(  05     "-I     rt     IN 


00Tj<-HT)<Orl(t^C2 
cOtOC0C0-l<O:<M2^ 


lO 

£ 

- 

c 

^ 

6 

o 

CO 

in 

lO 

o 

00 

CM 

in  t^  00  o  o  •-I 
00  o>  o  o  <N  «o 

•*  (N  O  CO  "-I  >-l 


O  T(<  CO  00 

CO  o  o  o 


(N  in 


CO   ■^   05   .-I 


m  CO  -<  <N 


cooooooinooiN't< 
t^t^coocoOQOc;^ 

Tj<  t>-      M      05      N      T-(      CO 


M       60     *f 


mp3^SfeOa}F^ 


o-  ii  -  =  ;  = 

o  CD  in  o  CM  o 

CO  CO  CO  CO  CO  00 

t^  CM  O  CM  -I  t^ 


£•    ^ 


The  Seventy-five  Dietaries  in  Detail 


65 


•*      i-l      t-      ^      05      05 

O     CO     «5     O     to     tH 

5D    eo    oj    CO    "-I    "c 


toooo-^cocooooo 

CO      t^      O      T»l  -       —       — 


fe     ^ 


O     Tj<     CO     lO     CO     "3 


^  g§  ^  -.  . .  .. 

CO    «o    CJ     i-l    »o 


00    t~    ci    00    JO    lo    T-H 


•*     rt     (N     ^ 


o   s 


rt    "*    to    O    •*    o 
t^    c<i    •-;    CO    oi    CO 

05        Tt<       CO        CVJ        ,-H        Tl< 


to    id 

o    CO    lo 
j2    ;*    c^ 


IN  O  O  ■*  CO  1-1 
03  "0  O  O  to  00 
rt      t-l      >0      C^  i-H 


S         ooooojcitot^-^ 

•»  tSiOoOC^jTHcO.-i 

~  ZOr-llO'^OCOrt 


CO    o^ 


O     rf<     ■*     CO 


c^ii3T-i'-ie-)Oco«o 

C^  t^     •*     to     to     Ti 


CO      03 


r*cOi-»tocoot^c^3 


or-ooo"5coo.-ico 


t>.     CO     o> 


lo    to    "41    CO 


t^     O     Tjl     rt     N     0> 

'3<     N     to     N     iH     .-H 

(N    ■*    i-(    iH    1-1    eo 


t^OOt^'NcO'-IO'H 

<-iot^£-toot^r^ 

'Oi-c'H-<»<coeoc<it~ 


M    >^      to 

p^  <H     to 


00    o    00    'O    to    ^H 

O      »-l      00      >0     <N      1^ 

t^     CO     t~     C^     .-1     <N 


c«  O     00 


00     to     CO     CO 


00    to    c^    c^ 


00     <M     CO     CO     rt     (N 


-i    =      o-  =s    =      -     -     ; 

■<JiOOOtOiOOC<IO 

Mt^cotocotooooo 

to  t^      C)       05      CV)      1-1      t^ 


b  ^ 


m  n 


•3    2 


fe     O    03     Ph 


£ 

: 

"5" 

a 

£ 

: 

•* 

3! 

1-1 

00 

1-1 

I0005gir5ri'«f<eo 
t^.-HO<NcoCONM 


b  ^ 


mpqrt<(i,Oo3P< 


66 


The  Minimum  Cost  of  Living 


"5 

(N 

d 
•7 

1 

s 

o- 

J 

: 

: 

: 

S 

8 

in 

o 

IE) 

to 

CO 

C<3 

Si  o-  Si 

TfitOINC^Ol'HlNOJ 


iz;  S 


00     -^     O     >-l 


(N     £     " 


O     to     i-l      CO     ■-< 


;?  2 


CO    i-H    00    CO    Tj<    CO 


d'-iO'Ocsc^it^cirH 


o  c^ 

^  o 


r^    CO    ic    "5 

«  S  »-•  "f* 


>.  O    £     - 

a    .  ci  CO 


fe^  S 


lO    o    Ji    CO    o    00 


rt     "3     CO     <»     (M     rt     lO 


THTt*»^COi/>00OJlO 


&  ^ 


pqpa^^Pi^ycBP, 


t^Oi-HOwjoO'-i'-' 
'-'cooic^r-coioo 

•-I.-COC005C0C0O 


&«^ 


The  Seventy-jive  Dietaries  in  Detail  67 

When  the  matter  of  instruction  in  diet  was 
first  contemplated  the  workers  realized  that  they 
were  facing  a  long  campaign.  In  planning  this 
campaign,  the  dietitians  weighed  carefully  the 
need  for  each  reform  in  diet,  and  the  relative 
chances  of  success.  They  realized  that  it  was  a 
delicate  matter  to  lay  even  the  friendliest  of 
hands  on  home  matters,  and  so  they  decided  to 
concentrate  on  one  point  at  a  time.  Furthermore, 
it  was  planned  to  make  each  of  these  points  the 
maximum  of  interest  until  some  definite  result 
should  be  accomplished.  Left  to  its  own  devices, 
the  average  family  in  such  a  group,  breakfasts 
on  bread  or  sugar  buns  and  tea.  The  noon 
meal,  if  ''supper"  is  the  chief  one  of  the  day, 
will  probably  be  "something  quick,"  mayhap 
potato-salad  or  ham  from  the  delicatessen  store, 
with  more  tea;  while  the  hot  supper,  if  there 
has  been  no  interruption  of  pay  day,  will 
always  have  meat,  and  almost  always  the  meat 
will  be  fried.  Besides  this  there  will  be  pota- 
toes and  sometimes  a  vegetable,  with  bread 
and  coffee.  ''The  children  must  take  what 
we  do" — this  means  the  strong  coffee  and 
tea,    cold     lunches,    fried    food,     with    no    cer- 


68  TJie  Minimum  Cost  of  Living 

tainty  of  the  much  needed  milk,  vegetables 
and  fruit. 

In  judging  results  of  the  food  work,  each  part 
of  the  plan  of  instruction  will  be  considered 
separately.  Besides  this,  the  dietary  standard  as 
a  whole,  will  be  discussed  in  relation  to  what  ac- 
tually happened  in  the  famihes. 

The  plan  of  instruction  included  the  following: 

1.  Food  value  of  milk  and  economy  in  its  use. 

2.  The  advantage  of  a  reasonable  amount  of 
meat. 

3.  The  necessity  for  fruits  and  vegetables. 

4.  The  use  of  cereals  to  give  variety  to  the 
starchy  foods. 

5.  Harmful  effects  of  tea  and  coffee  for  children. 

We  have  aheady  noted  that  the  dietary  stand- 
ard was  used  merely  as  a  guide.  The  famihes 
were  given  advice  and  instruction  in  food  matters, 
but  the  final  choice  was  left  to  each  housekeeper. 
It  was  thought  wisest  to  follow  this  course,  since 
arbitrary  dictation  would  defeat  the  chief  aim 
of  the  instruction.  Furthermore,  the  real  value 
of  the  standard  itself  could  be  better  judged  if  a 
reasonable  amount  of  freedom  of  choice  were 
given. 


The  Seventy-five  Dietaries  in  Detail  69 

Summary  of  the  Food  Figures 

Families  approaching 

Standard  Below  Above 

MUk 60% 40% 

Meat 4% 96% 

Fruit  and  Vegetables 54% 6% 40% 

Bread 8% 92% 

Cereals 41% 8% 51% 


RESULTS  FOLLOWING  INSTRUCTION  IN  THE  FOOD  VALUE 
OF   MILK 

The  dietitians  feel  that  the  results  here  were 
fairly  satisfactory.  Slow  and  patient  work  is 
needed  to  bring  about  changes  in  food  habits, 
and  the  women  responded  very  well  in  this  partic- 
ular. It  is  true  that  many  educational  agencies 
throughout  the  city  have  contributed  to  a  popular 
knowledge  concerning  the  value  of  milk,  so  that 
the  A.  I.  C.  P.  workers  found  instruction  on  this 
point  comparatively  easy. 

In  1906,  when  the  home  teaching  began,  few 
families  were  using  milk  of  any  description  with 
any  degree  of  regularity,  and  it  was  quite  excep- 
tional to  find  one  using  bottled  milk.  At  the 
present  time  it  is  safe  to  say  that  it  is  the  excep- 
tion to  find  a  family  that  does  not  at  least  reaUze 
the  value  of  bottled  milk. 


70  The  Minimum  Cost  of  Living 

The  dietitians  did  not  lose  heart  over  the  40% 
of  the  famihes  who  fell  below  the  milk  standard. 
In  each  home  there  are  special  problems,  and 
circumstances  often  conspire  to  make  progress 
slow. 

It  was  difficult  at  first  to  convince  the  house- 
keepers that  they  could  "afford"  to  buy  a  liberal 
quantity  of  milk.  After  they  were  convinced 
that  milk  not  only  contributed  to  the  health  of 
the  family,  but  that  it  also  was  literally  a  cheap 
food,  the  battle  was  practically  won. 

RESULTS    FOLLOWING    INSTRUCTION    IN    THE    MODERATE 
USE    OF   MEAT 

From  the  beginning  the  workers  realized  that 
they  could  accomplish  only  one  thing  at  a  time. 
They  realized  that  all  of  the  families  were  buying 
meat  in  too  large  quantities.  Education  in  the 
value  of  milk  was,  however,  thought  to  be  of 
primary  importance,  and  the  results  of  this  are 
noted  above. 

The  results  of  the  meat  instruction  do  not 
appear  on  the  surface  at  first  glance.  The  die- 
titians succeeded  in  reducing  the  excessive  amount 
very  considerably  in  nearly  every  family.    Beside 


The  Seventy-jive  Dietaries  in  Detail  71 

this,  in  fixing  the  food  standard  the  workers  real- 
ized that  the  meat  item  was  so  low  that  probably 
none  of  the  families  would  follow  it  exactly.  The 
teachers  felt  sure,  however,  that  no  real  harm 
would  come  from  the  small  proportion  of  meat, 
since  the  other  foods  were  being  shifted  into  their 
right  relationships. 

During  the  periods  of  irregular  income  preceding 
instruction,  large  purchases  of  meat  were  made 
whenever  there  was  a  temporary  increase  of 
money.  The  dietitians  worked  very  hard  to 
guard  against  such  unwise  planning  in  the  future. 
Women  were  taught  that  it  was  harmful  to  the 
health  of  the  famiUes  to  let  this  item  of  food  as- 
sume too  large  a  place  in  the  dietary. 

RESULTS    FOLLOWING    INSTRUCTION    IN    USE    OF    FRUITS 
AND   VEGETABLES 

For  some  time  one  of  the  dietitian's  difficulties 
had  been  to  induce  the  families  to  use  enough  of 
these  foods.  It  took  much  persuasion  to  con- 
vince mothers  that  oranges  were  anything  but 
an  extravagance.  The  merits  of  ''plenty  of  milk 
and  eggs"  were  extolled  openly  by  the  women, 
but  the  relation  of  carrots  and  spinach  to  bone 


72  The  Minimum  Cost  of  Living 

material  was  quite  a  new  idea.  Because  of  these 
facts,  and  because  of  long  acquaintance  with  the 
evils  resulting  from  a  diet  low  in  fruit  and  vege- 
tables, the  dietitians  were  not  unduly  cast  down 
over  the  fact  that  the  pendulum  swung  too  far 
the  other  way. 

RESULTS  FOLLOWING  INSTRUCTION  IN  THE  USE  OF  BREAD 
AND    CEREALS 

There  is  a  tendency  among  many  of  the  families 
of  the  hard  working  population  to  depend  too 
largely  on  the  diet  of  bread  and  tea.  There  are 
two  reasons  for  this,  first,  its  apparent  cheap- 
ness, and  second,  the  ease  with  which  it  can  be 
served. 

The  dietitians  realized  this  and  from  the  be- 
ginning of  the  regular  instruction  kept  these 
facts  in  mind.  The  plan  was  to  introduce  a  variety 
of  cereals  and  to  cut  down  somewhat  the  expendi- 
tures for  bread.  A  glance  at  the  summary  on 
page  69  shows  that  not  much  was  accomplished 
along  this  line.  It  is  true  that  a  fair  proportion 
came  near  the  cereal  allowance,  but  slightly  more 
than  half  exceeded  it  and  an  overwhelming  pro- 
portion went   far  beyond   the  bread  allowance. 


The  Seventy-jive  Dietaries  in  Detail  73 

These  facts  raise  some  interesting  questions  in 
dietetics.  During  the  time  when  the  famihes  were 
subsisting  on  a  meagre  diet  it  was  not  surprising 
that  they  craved  the  energy-giving  quahties  of 
starch  as  well  as  its  bulk.  Conditions  during  the 
present  study  were,  however,  quite  different. 
There  was  an  abundance  of  fruit  and  vegetables, 
and  plenty  of  strength  foods.  The  question  seems 
to  be  how  far  shall  this  demand  for  breadstuffs  be 
respected  in  formulating  future  dietary  standards. 

RESULTS   FOLLOWING  INSTRUCTION  REGARDING  TEA  AND 
COFFEE 

Figures  showing  actual  purchases  of  tea  and 
coffee  have  not  been  tabulated,  since  the  effect 
of  these  articles  on  the  actual  dietary  is  indirect 
only.  Instruction  concerning  the  harmful  effects 
of  these  beverages  for  children  was  continuous  and 
results  have  been  satisfactory.  There  is  a  close 
relationship  in  milk  education  and  the  decreased 
use  of  the  tea  and  coffee.  It  was  explained  to 
the  mothers  that  the  use  of  these  beverages  tended 
to  use  up  the  strength  of  the  children  faster  than 
the  other  foods  could  offset  this  evil  of  stimula- 
tions. 


74  The  Minimum  Cost  of  Living 

POINTS   TO    BE    CONSIDERED    IN   THE    FORMULATING 
OF   A   NEW   RATION   ALLOWANCE 

1.  It  is  probable  that  no  change  need  be  made 
in  the  quantity  of  milk  advised. 

2.  The  allowance  of  fruits  and  vegetables  seems 
to  be  satisfactory. 

3.  Some  work  should  be  done  on  the  question 
of  fixing  a  standard  amount  of  bread. 

4.  There  should  be  a  sufficiently  liberal  total 
allowance  to  permit  the  families  some  freedom  in 
satisfying  individual  wants  in  the  matter  of  flavor 
and  variety. 

CLASSIFICATION   OF   FOOD   ACCORDING  TO   SIZE   AND 
COMPOSITION   OF   FAMILY 

Considering  the  food  expenditure  according  to 
the  size  of  families,  we  have  the  following  groups: 

Group  1 — three  families  of  three  individuals 
each,  one  spending  46%  of  the  income  for  food, 
one  spending  71%,  and  one  74%  of  the  income 
for  food. 

Group  2 — twenty-six  families  of  four  individuals 
each,  one  spending  36%  of  the  income  for  food, 
one  37%),  one  38%,,  one  41%,  two  43%,  two  44%, 


The  Seventy-five  Dietaries  in  Detail  75 

three  45%,  three  47%,  three  48%,  two  49%, 
three  50%,  one  51%,  one  52%,  one  57%,  and 
one  62%  of  the  income  for  food. 

Group  3 — twenty  families  of  five  individuals 
each,  one  family  spending  38%  of  the  income  for 
food,  one  39%,  one  40%,  one  42%,  one  44%,  two 
49%,  three  50%,  three  51%,  two  52%,  two  53%, 
one  54%,  one  55%,  and  one  63%  of  the  income 
for  food. 

Group  4 — fifteen  families  of  six  individuals  each, 
one  spending  41%  of  the  income  for  food,  one 
42%,  one  45%,  two  46%,  two  47%,  one  48%, 
two  49%,  one  50%,  one  52%,  one  54%,  and  two 
57%,  of  the  income  for  food. 

Group  5 — six  families  of  seven  individuals  each, 
one  spending  42%  of  the  income  for  food,  one  47%, 
one  49%,  two  50%,  and  one  57%  of  the  income  for 
food. 

Group  6 — four  families  of  six  individuals  each, 
one  spending  45%  of  the  income  for  food,  one  47%, 
one  48%,  and  one  50%  of  the  income  for  food. 

Group  7 — one  family  of  eight  individuals  spend- 
ing 53%  of  the  income  for  food. 

It  is  a  generally  accepted  fact  that  large  families 
can  buy  to  better  advantage  than  small  ones.    In 


76  The  Minimum  Cost  of  Living 

this  group  the  advantage  has  not  seemed  to  be  so 
great  as  might  have  been  expected.  The  per- 
centage of  expenditure  for  food  remains  surpris- 
ingly imiform. 

CLASSIFICATION    OF    FOOD    EXPENDITURES   ACCORD- 
ING  TO   INCOME 

Considered  according  to  income  the  food  ex- 
penditures of  the  famiUes  may  be  divided  as  fol- 
lows: 

Group  1 — one  family  with  an  income  of  $200- 
$300  spending  71%  oi  this  income  for  food. 

Group  2 — two  families  with  an  income  of  $300- 
$400,  one  spending  48%  for  food,  the  other  74%  of 
the  income  for  food. 

Group  3 — nine  families  with  an  income  of  $400- 
$500,  one  spending  38%  for  food,  one  42%,  one 
48%,  one  52%,  one  56%,  two  57%,  one  62%,  and 
one  63%  of  the  income  for  food. 

Group  Jf. — twenty-one  families  with  an  income  of 
$500-$600,  one  spending  38%  for  food,  one  41%, 
one  42%,  one  43%,  two  45%,  one  46%,  one  47%, 
one  48%,  three  49%,  three  50%,  two  51%,  two 
52%,  one  53%,  and  one  55%. 

Group  5 — eighteen  famiUes  with  an  income  of 


The  Seventy-five  Dietaries  in  Detail  77 

)-$700,  one  spending  36%  for  food,  one  37%, 
one  39%,  one  40%,  two  44%,  one  45%,  two  47%, 
one  48%,  one  49%,  three  50%,  one  51%,  one  52%, 
one  53%,  and  one  54%  of  the  income  for  food. 

Group  6 — twelve  famihes  with  an  income  of 
$700-1800,  one  spending  43%  for  food,  two  44%, 
one  45%,  two  46%,  one  47%,  three  49%,  one  50%, 
and  one  53%  of  the  income  for  food. 

Group  7 — seven  famihes  with  an  income  of  $800- 
$900,  one  spending  34%  for  food,  one  41%,  one 
42%,  two  48%,  and  two  50%  of  the  income  for 
food. 

Group  8 — two  famihes  with  an  income  of  $900- 
$1,000,  one  spending  53%  and  one  57%  of  the 
income  for  food. 

Group  9 — three  famihes  with  an  income  of 
$1,000-$1,200,  one  spending  45%  for  food,  one 
47%  and  one  54%  of  the  income  for  food. 

From  the  above  it  is  evident  that  the  income 
must  go  beyond  the  $1,200  amount  before  a  rea- 
sonable decrease  may  be  expected  in  the  per- 
centage spent  for  food. 


CHAPTER  IV 

The  Clothing  Budget 

The  clothing  item  constitutes  one  of  the  most 
serious  phases  of  the  problem.  The  fact  that 
necessity  leads  the  housekeeper  to  plan  first  of  all 
for  the  rent,  second  for  the  food,  and  third  for 
incidentals,  shifts  the  clothing  expenditure  into  a 
secondary  place. 

Circumstances  make  the  lives  of  our  unskilled 
working  folk  a  series  of  vicious  circles.  The  very 
lack  of  provision  for  various  necessities  contributes 
to  the  low  state  of  health  that,  in  turn,  decreases 
the  power  to  earn  more. 

In  the  case  of  the  clothing,  even  with  careful 
planning,  the  sum  left  after  rent,  food,  and  in- 
cidentals have  been  paid  for  will  barely  clothe  the 
working  and  school  members  of  the  family.  The 
housekeeper  herself  must  eke  out  with  cast-off 
garments.  Women  frequently  say — ''I  have  not 
had  a  hat,  or  a  coat" — as  the  case  may  be — ''for 
ten  years." 

Clean,  comfortable  and  suitable  clothing  for  the 

78 


The  Clothing  Budget  79 

house  mother  would  react  favorably  on  the  welfare 
of  the  entire  family.  The  fact  that  many  of  our 
families  depend  on  gifts  is  not  an  unmixed  blessing. 
There  is  a  natural  shrinking  from  the  wearing  of 
clothing  belonging  to  persons  outside  of  the  family 
circle,  and  this  aversion  should  be  respected. 

The  following  figures  are  perhaps  one  of  the 
most  significant  in  the  entire  study.  In  no  case 
was  the  sum  spent  for  clothing  sufficient  to  provide 
properly  for  all  members  of  the  family.  Later  we 
shall  have  occasion  to  speak  of  the  connection  of 
this  fact  with  the  meagre  appropriation  for  in- 
cidentals. Reference  to  the  clothing  estimate, 
page  13  will  show,  that  the  provision  made  was 
at  the  best  scanty.  The  fact  that  not  one  of  our 
families  even  approached  this  sum  gives  much 
food  for  thought. 

The  percentage  spent  for  clothing  is  so  low  in 
every  case,  irrespective  of  income,  that  it  is  not 
possible  to  do  much  in  the  way  of  making  com- 
parisons. 

In  classifying  the  clothing  expenditures  according 
to  income,  the  families  fall  into  the  following  groups : 

Group  1 — one  family  with  an  income  of  $200- 
$300  spending  21%  of  this  income  for  clothing. 


80  The  Minimum  Cost  of  Living 

Group  2 — two  families  with  an  income  of  $300- 
$400,  one  spending  7%,  and  one  8%  of  the  income 
for  clothing. 

Group  3 — eight  families  with  an  income  of  $400- 
$500,  one  spending  2%,  one  3%,  one  8%,  one  11%, 
one  12%,  two  13%,  and  one  18%  of  the  income 
for  clothing. 

Group  If. — twenty-two  families  with  an  income  of 
$500-$600,  one  spending  5%,  one  7%,  six  8%, 
three  9%,  four  11%,  two  12%,  one  14%,  and  one 
16%  of  the  income  for  clothing. 

Group  5 — eighteen  families  with  an  income  of 
$600-$700,  one  spending  4%,  one  8%,  two  7%, 
one  9%,  four  10%,  one  11%,  two  12%,  one  13%, 
two  14%,  and  three  18%  of  the  income  for  clothing. 

Group  6 — twelve  families  with  an  income  of 
$700-$800,  one  spending  4%,  two  6%,  one  8%, 
two  9%,  two  10%,  two  14%,  and  two  16%  of  the 
income  for  clothing. 

Group  7 — seven  families  with  an  income  of 
$800-$900,  one  spending  7%,  one  11%,  two  13%, 
two  14%,  and  one  15%  of  the  income  for  clothing. 

Group  8 — two  families  with  an  income  of  $900- 
$1,000,  each  spending  9%  of  the  income  for  cloth- 
ing. 


The  Clothing  Budget  81 

Group  9 — three  families  with  an  income  of 
$1,000-11,200,  one  spending  7%,  one  8%,  and  one 
14%  of  the  income  for  clothing. 

In  fixing  the  sum  allowed  in  the  estimate  for 
clothing,  there  was  no  attempt  to  set  a  standard. 
The  Association  made  itself  responsible  only  for 
the  sirni  required  to  meet  actual  living  needs.  It 
has  already  been  stated  that  practically  all  of  the 
families  depended  largely  upon  gifts  of  clothing. 
This  fact  is  another  reason  for  not  depending  upon 
the  women's  own  expense  accounts  for  help  in 
setting  a  standard.  Furthermore,  it  was  not  prac- 
tical to  secure  completely  itemized  accounts  of 
clothing  expenditures  from  any  of  the  women. 
A  good  beginning  was  made  in  this  direction,  how- 
ever. Systematic  record  keeping  was  in  itself  a 
tax  at  first,  and  the  workers  made  haste  slowly 
here  as  in  the  case  of  the  food  work.  Approxi- 
mately only  50%  of  the  clothing  expenditure  was 
fully  itemized.  The  remaining  items  were  entered 
in  the  account  books  simply  as  "clothing." 

The  entries  for  clothing  that  were  itemized  give 
details  enough  to  furnish  considerable  help  and 
information.  For  example,  expenditures  for  both 
shoes  and  stockings  were  entered  in  detail  in  each 


82  The  Minimum  Cost  of  Living 

case,  as  were  those  for  "repairs."  The  following 
table  is  a  fair  average  of  the  manner  in  which  a 
clothing  budget  of  $53.44  was  spent.  The  family 
consisted  of  woman  and  three  children,  ten,  nine 
and  three  years.  The  prices  also  give  a  good  idea 
of  those  paid  by  all  the  families. 

CLOTHING   BUDGET 

First  Quarter 

Shoes $1.25        Shoes  (2  pr.) $    3.00 

Stockings,  1  pr 10        Underwear 50 

Apron .20        Rompers 25 

Material 35        Underwear 1 .  00 

CoUar 10  

$6.75 

Second  Quarter 

Stockings,  2  pr 25        Rompers  (2) 50 

Stockings,  3  pr 35         Kimonas  (2)    50 

Stockings,  1  pr 10         Baby's  hat 10 

Underwear 50        Garters 05 

Boy's  shoes 1 .25        Stockings,  2  pr 25 

2  dresses 96        Dresses  (2) 98 

Rompers 25         Stockings,  2  pr 20 

Stockings  (3  pr.) 30        Stockings,  2  pr 20 

Child's  dress 49  

$7.23 

Third  Quarter 

Stockings,  1  pr $   .10        Underwear 35 

Stockings,  2  pr 20         Undervest 19 

Stockings,  3  pr 30         Rompers 25 

Stockings,  6  pr 60        Rompers 25 


The  Clothing  Budget 


83 


Third  Quarter — Continued 


Dresses  (2) $  .98 

Material 30 

Gloves 10 

Underwear 49 

Rubbers 35 

Rompers 25 

Shoes 1.00 

Skirt 25 

Ribbon 10 

Rompers 25 

Shirtwaist 98 


Corsetcover $   .15 

Waist 59 

Shoes 1 .  50 

Shoes,  2  pr 3 .  50 

Repairs 50 


Ribbon 
Hat  .  .  . 
Waist  . 
Dress  . 


.20 
.49 
.10 
.49 


$14.81 


Fourth  Quarter 

Repairs S   .50        Stockings,  15  pr $1 .  50 

Waist 49 

Dress 49 

Underwear 20 

Handkerchiefs 15 

Material 50 

Repairs 1 .  50 

Shoes 1.25 

Underwear 25 


Rompers 25 

Ribbon 20 

Shoes,  2  pr 2 .  50 

Material 25 

Child's  Shoes 50 

Child's  dress 49 

Waist 49 

Repairs 50 


$5.33  $6.68 

5.33 

$12.01 

Itemized  total  for  year $40 .  80 

Entered  as  " clothing" 12. 64 

Grand  total $53 .  44 

The  budget  given  is  quoted  verbatim  from  the 
housekeeper's  own  expense  book  and  may  be  called 
typical  of  all  the  others. 


84  The  Minimum  Cost  of  Living 

It  is  probable  that  this  housekeeper  would  have 
come  very  near  to  the  estimated  amount  for  cloth- 
ing but  for  the  fact  that  there  was  an  unexpected 
falling  off  of  $46.00  in  the  income  of  the  family. 

In  commenting  on  the  necessary  educational 
work  the  sewing  teacher  of  the  Home  Economics 
Division  writes  as  follows:  ''The  sum  fixed  in  my 
estimate  for  clothing  is  not  the  ideal,  but  simply 
the  best  that  can  be  done  in  the  way  of  dividing  a 
minimum  income.  The  family  clothing  is  usually 
sadly  neglected — even  the  necessary  things  that 
are  mentioned  in  the  estimate  are  too  often  for- 
gotten. The  children  are  seldom  provided  with 
change  of  undergarments,  and  nightclothes  are 
seldom  thought  of.  I  have  tried  to  teach  the 
mothers  the  necessity  for  these  things,  and  to 
show  them  that  to  a  limited  extent  even  these  can 
be  purchased  with  the  average  income  of  the 
family  in  this  group.  In  each  family  my  instruc- 
tion has  included  directions  for  keeping  clean  and 
self-respecting,  as  the  result  of  thoughtful  and 
careful  buying." 

In  the  foregoing  paragraph  Mrs.  Ditmas  touches 
on  a  vital  part  of  the  work.  It  is  true  that  the 
comparative  cheapness  of  ready-made  garments 


The  Clothing  Budget  85 

must  be  considered.  Experience  and  observation, 
however,  lead  to  the  conclusion  that  properly- 
directed  lessons  in  selection  of  fabrics  and  making 
of  garments  are  necessary  if  the  family  problem  is 
to  be  dealt  with  adequately. 

Good  results  in  nutrition  depend  directly  on  a 
budget  that  takes  into  consideration  all  the  divi- 
sions of  the  family  expenditures. 


CHAPTER  V 

Fuel  and  Light 

In  comparing  what  actually  happened  with  the 
''ideal  division"  spoken  of  on  page  12  we  realize 
that  families  living  on  a  minimum  basis  can  make 
only  a  very  small  provision  for  the  item  known  as 
"operating  expenses."  In  fact  the  mechanism  of 
these  households  is  so  simple  as  to  limit  this  item 
to  the  elemental  ones  of  fuel  and  light.  Study  of 
the  table  on  page  13  shows  that  very  few  of  the 
famihes  even  approach  the  8%  of  the  income 
allowed  in  the  ''ideal  division." 

It  has  not  been  thought  necessary  to  make 
tabulations  as  to  the  kinds  of  fuel  used,  since  prac- 
tically all  of  the  families  have  at  least  a  one-burner 
gas  stove,  and  most  of  them,  a  coal  range  that 
may  be  used  in  very  cold  weather.  During  all 
except  the  most  extreme  weather,  the  house- 
keepers carefully  save  fuel,  and  the  families  be- 
come accustomed  to  unheated  rooms. 

One  of  the  chief  drawbacks  in  the  tenement 
house  life  is  the  lack  of  provision  for  storage  of 

86 


Fuel  and  Light  87 

even  moderate  amounts  of  either  coal  or  wood. 
This  makes  it  necessary  for  many  of  the  house- 
keepers to  buy  coal  ''by  the  pail,"  and  wood  by 
the  ''bundle."  This  fact  makes  it  impossible  to 
estimate  the  fuel  needs  on  an  economical  basis. 
The  actual  saving  on  fuel  and  light  when  pur- 
chased by  the  ton  is  50%. 

The  expenditures  for  this  item  are  surprisingly 
uniform.  The  average  is  for  the  entire  group  of 
Association  families,  approximately  two  thousand. 

When  grouped  according  to  the  percentage  of 
income  that  was  spent  for  fuel  and  Ught,  the 
families  may  be  classified  thus: 

Group  1 — one  family  with  an  income  of  $200- 
$300,  spending  10%  of  the  income  for  fuel  and 
Hght. 

Group  2 — two  families  with  an  income  of  $300- 
$400,  one  spending  7%,  and  one  4%  of  the  income 
for  fuel  and  light. 

Group  3 — eight  families  with  an  income  of  $400- 
$500,  three  spending  8%,  one  4%,  one  6%,  one 
7%,  one  3%,  one  10%  of  the  income  for  fuel  and 
light. 

Group  4 — twenty-two  families  with  an  income  of 
$500-$600,  three  spending  5%,  three  3%,  three 


88  The  Minimum  Cost  of  Living 

7%,  three  6%,  six  4%,  one  2%,  and  one  1%  of 
the  income  for  fuel  and  Hght. 

Group  5 — eighteen  famiUes  with  an  income  of 
$600-1700,  six  spending  5%,  three  6%,  three  2%, 
three  4%,  one  8%,  one  3%,  and  one  7%  of  the 
income  for  fuel  and  light. 

Group  6 — twelve  families  with  an  income  of 
$700-$800,  three  spending  4%,  five  5%,  one  2%, 
one  3%,  one  6%,  and  one  7%  of  the  income  for 
fuel  and  light. 

Group  7 — seven  families  with  an  income  of 
$800-1900,  two  spending  5%,  one  4%,  one  6%, 
and  three  7%  of  the  income  for  fuel  and  light. 

Group  8 — two  families  with  an  income  of  $900- 
$1,000,  one  spending  5%,  and  one  7%  of  the  in- 
come for  fuel  and  light. 

Group  9 — three  families  with  an  income  of 
$1,000-$1,200,  two  spending  3%  and  one  5%  of 
the  income  for  fuel  and  light. 


CHAPTER  VI 

Incidentals 

When  considered  according  to  the  percentage  of 
income  spent  for  incidentals,  the  families  fall  into 
the  following  groups : 

Growp  1 — one  family  with  an  income  of  $200- 
$300,  spending  6%  of  the  income  for  incidentals. 

Growp  2 — two  families  with  an  income  of  $300- 
$400,  one  spending  7%  and  one  5%  of  the  income 
for  incidentals, 

Growp  3 — eight  famiUes  with  an  income  of  $400- 
$500,  one  spending  10%,  one  9%,  two  6%,  two 
4%,  one  8%,  and  one  12%  of  the  income  for 
incidentals. 

Group  If. — twenty-two  famihes  with  an  income  of 
$500-$600,  four  spending  9%,  four  4%,  one  7%, 
five  10%,  three  6%,  one  5%,  two  8%,  and  two  3% 
of  the  income  for  incidentals. 

Group  5 — eighteen  families  with  an  income  of 
$600-$700,  one  spending  18%,  three  6%,  four  9%, 
one  10%,  one  11%,  five  5%,  one  3%,  and  two  8% 
of  the  income  for  incidentals. 

Group  6 — twelve  families  with  an  income  of 

m 


90  The  Minimum  Cost  of  Living 

$700-$800,  one  spending  12%,  one  4%,  two  6%, 
one  8%,  three  9%,  one  10%,  two  5%,  and  one 
7%  of  the  income  for  incidentals. 

Group  7 — seven  families  with  an  income  of 
S800-$900,  one  spending  14%,  one  12%,  two  4%, 
one  3%,  one  17%,  and  one  8%  of  the  income  for 
incidentals. 

Group  8 — two  families  with  an  income  of  $900- 
$1,000,  one  spending  5%,  and  one  10%  of  the 
income  for  incidentals. 

Group  9 — three  families  with  an  income  of 
$1,000-$1,200,  one  spending  9%,  and  two  8%  of 
the  income  for  incidentals. 

As  in  the  case  of  the  clothing,  it  has  been  im- 
possible to  use  the  expense  account  as  a  standard 
on  this  point.  This  was  due  to  the  fact  that  the 
budgets  were  made  out  on  a  basis  which  allowed 
for  no  margin. 

The  expense  books  show  several  items  common 
to  all  families.  Church,  household  supplies, 
school  suppHes,  laundry  materials  and  insurance 
are  the  principal  ones.  Forty-seven  of  the  seventy- 
five  expense  accounts  showed  entries  for  recreation, 
usually  tickets  for  the  movies.  The  average  ex- 
penditure for  recreation  is  $.30  a  week. 


Incidentals 


91 


The  figures  on  page  51  will  show  how  small  a 
percentage  of  the  income  was  available  for  in- 
cidentals. In  families  where  large  expenditures  in 
this  direction  had  to  be  made,  the  clothing  item 
was  invariably  robbed. 

A  typical  expense  account  for  incidentals  is 
given  here : 


Actual  Expenditures  for  Sundries 
Family,  4  Individuals,  $600-$700  Income 


Laundry  weekly  (.22) 

Church  (.16) 

Thread 

Tooth  powder 

Geography 

Matches 

Shoe  polish 

Needles 

Knife 

Book 

Shoe  polish 

Shoe  polish 

Stamps 

Papers 

Clothing  hooks 

Stamps 

Spending  money 

Pictures 

Tooth  paste 

Stamps 

Thread 


.$11.44 
.  8.32 
.10 
.10 
.10 
.05 
.10 
.05 
.10 
.04 
.10 
.10 
.08 
.06 
.05 
.08 
.03 
.20 
.10 
.08 
.02 


Forward $21.30 


Map  for  school .  .  . 

Pail 

Pictures 

Table  cloth 

Joe's  Club 

Stamps 

Pictures 

Paper 

Joe's  Club 

Joe's  Club  weekly 

Stamps 

Cards 

Shelf  paper 

10  yds.  sheeting .  . 

Towels 

Postals 

Towels 

Shoe  polish 


.10 
.16 
.20 
.59 
.05 
.10 
.20 
.10 
10 
.05 
.10 
.15 
.10 
.  1.10 
.66 
.05 
.15 
.08 
Moving  expenses 5 .  50 


$21.30 


$30.84 


92 


The  Minimum  Cost  of  Living 


Forward $30.84 

Mattress 3.24 


Forward $36 .  54 


Writing  paper .  . 
Tooth  paste .  .  . 

Paper 

Writing  paper .  . 

Pleasure 

Picture 

Darning  cotton . 

Envelopes 

School  supplies . 
Shoe  polish .... 
Stove  polish .  .  . 

Hair  cut 

Joe's  Club 

Stamps 

Stamps 

Teakettle 

1  pan 

Spoon  holder.  .  , 


.10 
.10 
.07 
.10 
.40 
.05 
.05 
.05 
.10 
.10 
.05 
.15 
.05 
.02 
.10 
.45 
.37 
.15 


Matches 

Postals 

Postals 

Postals 

Bell 

Pictures  

Stamps 

Writing  paper 
Embroidery  .  . 

Stamps 

Tooth  paste  .  . 
Matches 


05 

07 

02 

03 

05 

40 

11 

15 

16 

04 

10 

05 

Refrigerator 2 .  00 


Stamps 

Tooth  paste  .  .  . 
Darning  cotton 

Stamps 

Dues  on  book  . 
Shoe  polish  .  .  . , 


.04 
.10 
.05 
.04 
.06 
.10 


$36.54 


Total $40.16 


Perhaps  no  other  one  point  as  this  of  a  small 
allowance  for  sundries  shows  so  well  what  it  means 
to  any  family  to  be  without  at  least  a  moderate 
margin. 

Families  in  the  groups  under  discussion,  those 
of  the  rank  and  file  of  wage  earners,  have  much  to 
give  to  our  national  life.  The  intensive  work  de- 
scribed in  these  pages  has  shown  that  it  would  be 
well  worth  while  for  neighborhoods  and  com- 
munities to  undertake  systematic  cooperation  for 


Incidentals  93 

the  purpose  of  building  for  future  strength.  Every 
family  that  learns  to  attain  its  potential  best, 
physical,  mental  and  spiritual,  is  a  strong  power. 
The  problems  of  independent  families  are  closely 
allied  to  those  of  the  families  under  discussion. 
Conservation  of  all  resources  among  independent 
families  reduces  to  a  minimum  the  number  on  the 
verge  of  the  so-called  poverty  line. 

Someone  has  said  that  the  essential  difference 
between  poverty  and  riches  is — ''To  be  fifty  dol- 
lars ahead,  or  fifty  dollars  behind."  If  this  test 
were  appKed  to  our  seventy-five  families  only 
three  would  be  above  the  poverty  line.  If,  how- 
ever, we  interpret  the  words  ''poverty"  and 
"riches"  in  the  larger  sense,  we  might  hope  that 
all  families  in  the  group  were  richer  at  the  end  of 
the  year  than  at  the  beginning — richer  in  under- 
standing of  their  own  needs,  in  formulating  plans 
for  meeting  these  needs,  in  the  realization  that 
each  family  had  a  place  of  its  own  to  fill  in  the 
social  scheme,  and  richer  in  courage  to  meet  the 
task  of  preparing  to  fill  this  place. 

Printed  in  the  United  States  of  America 


'HE   following   pages   contain    advertisements   of 
books  by  the  same  author  or  on  kindred  subjects 


BY  THE   SAME  AUTHOR 


Food  for  the  Invalid  and  the  Convalescent 


$0.75 

A  great  many  books  of  special  menus  have  been  published, 
but  upon  one  and  all  the  same  comment  may  be  made — they 
are  too  elaborate.  They  mean  either  the  expenditure  of  too 
much  money  or  too  much  time  and  patience.  It  has  long 
been  realized  that  there  was  a  decided  need  for  a  book  of  few 
pages  which  shall  concisely  set  forth  simple,  inexpensive 
meals  from  which  the  greatest  amount  of  nutritive  values 
may  be  obtained. 

This  has  been  exactly  Miss  Winifred  Stuart  Gibbs's  pur- 
pose in  this  work,  a  fitting  sub-title  for  which  might  be  "A 
Maximum  of  Nutrition,  a  Minimum  of  Expenditure."  Be- 
ginning with  a  few  general  articles  on  how  to  buy  food,  how 
to  keep  food  from  spoiling,  the  kinds  of  food  to  eat,  the  ne- 
cessity of  good  cooking  and  how  to  cook.  Miss  Gibbs  passes 
rapidly  to  her  two  main  considerations,  the  preparation  of 
the  various  classes  of  food  and  the  combinations  of  food  into 
special  menus  and  diets.  In  the  first  part,  drinks,  liquid  foods, 
soups,  meats,  fats,  fish,  eggs,  cereals,  breads,  vegetables, 
fruits  and  desserts  are  considered,  while  in  the  second  part 
the  menus  are  divided  into  three  classes,  those  for  the  healthy, 
for  children,  and  for  the  sick  and  convalescent. 


THE    MACMILLAN    COMPANY 

Publishers         64-66  Fifth  Avenue         New  York 


Feeding  the  Family 


By  MARY  SWARTZ  ROSE 

Illustrated,  $2.10 

This  is  a  clear  and  concise  account  in  simple  every-day 
terms  of  the  ways  in  which  modern  knowledge  of  the  science 
of  nutrition  may  be  applied  in  ordinary  life.  The  food  needs 
of  the  different  members  of  the  typical  family  group — men, 
women,  infants,  children  of  various  ages — are  discussed  in 
separate  chapters,  and  many  concrete  illustrations  in  the  form 
of  food  plans  and  dietaries  are  included.  The  problems  of  the 
housewife  in  trying  to  reconcile  the  needs  of  different  ages 
and  tastes  at  the  same  table  are  also  taken  up,  as  are  the  cost 
of  food  and  the  construction  of  menus.  A  final  chapter  deali 
with  feeding  the  sick. 

"The  volume  is  so  simply  and  entertainingly  written  that 
it  cannot  but  be  enjoyed  by  anyone  interested  in  the  planning 
or  preparation  of  household  meals,  and  it  would  be  difficult 
to  imagine  a  more  helpful  book  to  put  into  the  hands  of 
a  reader  desiring  information  along  such  lines." — Trained 
Nurse. 


THE    MACMLLIAN    COMPANY 

Publishers  64-66  Fifth  Avenue         New  York 


Chemistry  of  Food  and  Nutrition 


By  henry  C.  SHERMAN,  Ph.D. 
Professor  in  Columbia  University 


Cloth,  i2mo,  viii  +  355  pages,  $1.50 


The  purpose  of  this  volume  is  to  present  the  principles 
of  the  chemistry  of  food  and  nutrition  with  special  refer- 
ence to  the  food  requirements  of  man  and  the  considera- 
tions which  should  underhe  our  judgment  of  the  nutritive 
values  of  food.  The  food  is  here  considered  chiefly  in  its 
nutritive  relations. 


"  A  compact  compendium  of  information  based  upon  the 
most  recent  researches."  —  The  Nation. 

"It  is  a  real  pleasure  to  call  attention  to  Dr.  Sherman's 
work,  which  is  excellent.  .  .  .  Not  too  long,  nor  too  tech- 
nical." —  Johns  Hopkins  Hospital  Bulletin. 

"  A  veritable  treasure  to  the  student  of  dietetics."  — 
Chicago  Record-Herald. 


THE   MACMILLAN   COMPANY 

Publishers  64-66  Fifth  Avenue  New  York 


Human  Foods 

By  harry  SNYDER,  B.S. 

Professor  of  Agricultural  Chemistry,  University  of  Minnesota,  and 
Chemist  of  the  Minnesota  Agricultural  Experiment  Station 

Cloth,  i2mo,  illustrated,  362  pages,  $1.25 

A  discussion  of  the  composition  and  physical  properties  of  foods,  the  main 
factors  which  affect  their  nutritive  value,  etc. 

Dairy  Chemistry 

By  harry  SNYDER,  B.S. 

Illustrated,  igo  pages,  $1.00 

"The  book  is  a  valuable  one  which  any  dairy  farmer,  or,  indeed,  any  one 
handling  stock,  may  read  with  profit."  — Rural  New  Yorker. 

Milk  and  Its  Products 

By  henry  H.  wing 

Professor  of  Dairy  Husbandry  in  Cornell  University 

New  Revised  Edition,  with  new  illustrations,  cloth,  i2mo,  $1.50 

The  revolution  in  dairy  practice,  brought  about  by  the  introduction  of  the 
centrifugal  cream  separator  and  the  Babcock  test  for  fat,  by  a  more  definite 
knowledge  regarding  the  various  fermentations  that  so  greatly  influence  milk, 
and  the  manufacture  of  its  products,  have  demanded  the  publication  of  a  book 
that  shall  give  to  the  dairyman,  and  particularly  to  the  dairy  student,  in  simple, 
concise  form,  the  principles  underlying  modern  dairy  practice.  Such  has  been 
Professor  Wing's  purpose  in  this  work.  This  is  not  a  new  edition  of  the  au- 
thor's very  successful  volume  pubHshed  under  the  same  title  many  years  ago ; 
it  is,  in  reality,  an  entirely  new  book,  having  been  wholly  reset  and  enlarged  by 
the  addition  of  new  matter,  both  text  and  illustrations.  The  author's  aim  has 
been  at  all  times  to  give  the  present  state  of  knowledge  as  supported  by  the 
weight  of  evidence  and  the  opinions  of  those  whose  authority  is  highest. 


THE    MACMILLAN    COMPANY 

Publishers  64-66  Fifth  Avenue  New  York 


The  New  Public  Health 

By  HIBBERT  WINSLOW  HILL 

Of  the  Institute  of  Public  Health,  London,  Ontario,  Canada 

Cloth,  i2ttw,  $1.25 

Dr.  EQll  has  analyzed  the  revolutionary  changes  that  have 
taken  place  in  the  public  attitude  toward  the  public  health, 
and  studied  the  problem  of  the  public  apathy  to  constructive 
sanitation.  His  new  book  is  a  survey  of  the  field,  tracing 
first  the  differences  between  the  old  attitude  and  the  new, 
and  second,  pointing  out  the  actual  achievements  in  public 
and  individual  defense  against  infection  and  contagion. 
The  book  discusses  m  detail  the  work  of  the  PubUc  Health 
Engineer,  Statistician,  and  Laboratory,  particularly  in  refer- 
ence to  the  pubUc  health  of  the  future,  and  describes  the 
administration  and  application  of  the  principles  and  methods 
which  research  has  discovered  and  developed  in  recent  years. 
Tuberculosis,  scarlet  fever,  and  venereal  diseases  receive 
especially  full  treatment. 

The  book  is  optimistic,  constructive,  and  enthusiastic  ;  it 
gives  at  once  a  sound  working  knowledge  of  what  has  been 
done  and  a  practical  program  for  procedure  in  the  future ;  it 
is  authoritative  and  founded  on  long  actual  experience. 

"  The  way  is  clear,  what  remains  is  to  follow  it ;  the 
method  is  known,  what  remains  is  to  carry  it  out ;  the  thing 
we,  as  a  race,  for  centuries  have  prayed  for,  can  be  done; 
all  that  remains  is  to  do  it.  Each  generation  of  Americans 
pays  now  for  infectious  diseases  ten  billion  dollars  at  the 
least,  and  has  the  diseases,  too.  Why  not  pay  one-tenth  this 
sum  and  rid  ourselves  of  them  forever  ? 


THE   MACMILLAN   COMPANY 

Publishors  64-66  Fi£th  Avenue  New  York 


This  book  isDUT^ 


I^C  SOUjHERN  REGIOf\;AL  LIBRARY  FACILITY 


AA    000  959  396    3 


r 


^^"  -LES 

'AL  SCHOOL 


UNIVERSITY  of  CALltUKix; 
AT 
LOS  ANGELES 
UBRARY 


STATE  KOHMAL  SCIICOL 

T.OS  AI^'GELES.  CaUFORMT^ 


i«l 


